Establishing Regionally Delivering Locally Establishing Regionally

Background Western Australia in the 1990’s Munro in England in 2011 Desire to move away from an overuse of policy and procedure To on-the-ground human practice that makes a constructive difference for professionals and families, and creates meaningful safety for children in high risk cases A purposive, positive focus for child protection work that is energising and affirming for practitioners and agencies….

Local Context Brief Solution Therapy Motivational Interviewing Signs of Safety Brief Solution Therapy Motivational Interviewing Goal Assessment Scaling Collaborative Relationships Reflective Practice Integrated Family Support Service Reclaiming Social Work

SoCIAL Services & wellbeing act Changes to Culture and Practice Co-production and collaboration Less risk averse Strengths based approach Outcome orientated What matters to the person Professional judgement Undertake proportionate assessments Community responses

The SIGNS OF SAFETY Assessment & principles Framework Rather than try and assert a definitive truth, ask penetrating, rigorous questions focussed on the four domains of worries, strengths, goals and judgement Signs of Safety recognised as a strengths based approach alongside an exploration of danger and risk Constructive working relationships; between professionals and family members, and between professionals themselves Thinking critically; all processes that support and inform practice foster a questioning approach or a spirit of inquiry as the core professional stance of the child protection practitioner Rigour, skilfulness and greater depth of practice; by locating it in what on-the-ground good practice with complex and challenging cases looks, smells and lives like The best child protection practice is always both forensic and collaborative

Comprehensive Risk Assessment Family Knowledge Network and Culture Balanced Assessment of Risk Danger Safety Professional Knowledge Network and Authority

signs of Safety Maps the harm, danger, complicating factors, strengths, existing and required safety and a safety judgement in situations where children are at risk of harm. Is the organising map for child protection intervention from case commencement to closure. At its simplest contains four domains for inquiry: What are we worried about? (Past harm, future danger and complication factors) What’s working well? (Existing strengths and safety) What needs to happen? (Future safety) Where are we on a scale of 0 to 10 (Where 10 means there is enough safety for child protection authorities to close the case and 0 means it is certain that the child will be (re)abused).

The 3 Columns WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: WHAT ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT?   On the 12th April 2018, Police and Paramedics are at the family home. T is under the influence of drugs. She’s sat at the top of the stairs with her back against the wall. She is breathing and conscious but unable to stand or speak. She is making groaning sounds. Also present is mother’s friend T J. She too is under the influence of drugs. T (mother) was taken to PPH. K, C and W were all at home. KG (mother’s friend) and her son are at the property. She reports that she stayed over last night as T (mum), T J and S (mother’s boyfriend) had all been taking amphetamine last night. They were also under the influence of alcohol. S had left the property before the Police/Paramedic’s had arrived. KG was concerned that the children had witnessed this behaviour. She rang the ambulance as T took a turn for the worse and could become violent. The children were frightened and scared that their mother would be very ill or at worse even die. K is worried as mother drinks alcohol, smoking Cannabis and weed. She also takes tablets. S and another friend at home. Ambulance called as mother could not breathe. S ran off before Police arrived. Since S has been calling over last 2 weeks mother’s gone downhill. W is worried about mum being ill. Doesn’t want S to come back. Mum is in bed a lot. Stop ambulance coming to house. He is sometimes sad. Not going back before she’s better. C. Mum hits me (15/05/17). I cook whilst mum is in bed. Putting man before us. She has been taking drugs for a while. She’s abusive. Amphetamine tablet found in C’s coat in school. There was also one other time when T has fallen in to a hedge. There are concerns about her health. She says it’s all down to her medication. It appears she may have been misusing drugs. Family in Cardiff report concerns going back over 6 years. On 1 occasion T has been found foaming at the mouth on the kitchen floor. She was conveyed to Heath Hospital under the influence with the children in the ambulance. T was dependence on Co-Codamol and went downhill with J. T hid Valium/Dog Valium in K’s Holy Communion bag. Family so concerned about the wellbeing of the children that they bought mobile phones for them so they could remain in contact when the children are in Ammanford. Family were known to Cardiff Social Services. T was believed to be in care herself whilst she lived with her family in Cork.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: The 3 Columns WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: WHAT’S WORKING WELL?   Family in Cardiff have stepped up and are looking after the children. They are safe and well cared for. Family are concerned about the welfare and safety of the children. They live 50 miles away from T in Ammanford. Whilst at home (Ammanford) there have been no concerns about the house. It is well looked after, clean and tidy. The children are clean and well dressed and are healthy generally. The children attend school regularly but are often late. The children do speak warmly of T as things are not always bad. Mother’s friend, T has been a good support to mother. It is she who rang the ambulance on 12th April. When J (previous partner) was around didn’t like T taking tablets and did things with the children.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: The 3 Columns WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?   As T did not attend today’s Network Meeting the family would like the following to be considered as a way forward. They and the children do not want to return home to their mother until she is in a position to care and provide safety for herself and the children. In the interim they would like mother to formally consent for the children to remain in their care in Cardiff. If she doesn’t they would like assistance from Carmarthenshire and Cardiff County Councils to ensure the children are not placed at further risk. The family would like mother to give financial support to help care for the children. If she refuses the family would like Carmarthenshire and Cardiff to consider assisting them. All children have not been to school for a few weeks. Consent should be sought who is best placed to ensure the children attend school. The family would like the children’s mother, Social Services and Education to sort this out as soon as possible. The family also want T to consent to a temporary registration of the children with a GP in Cardiff. More generally further conversations are needed around the whole issue of consent. If T is motivated enough to address her drug and alcohol misuse, IFST and its partners in Adult Substance Misuse would be prepared to meet with T to assess who is best placed to help her. T would (the family believe) benefit from making an appointment with her GP in relation to her prescribed medication and general wellbeing. Although the family were not asked about scaling (0-10) it is clear that they all believe the children should be at risk of significant harm should they return to T’s care without any formal plan. The family would like more detailed and in-depth conversations with Carmarthenshire County Council and Cardiff County Council to review the children’s experiences as they feel there have been a number of missed opportunities to help the children much soon that what has transpired.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: The 3 Columns WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION FACING THE FAMILY: SCALING On a scale of 0 to 10 where 10 means everyone knows the children are safe enough for the child protection authorities to close the case and zero means things are so bad for the children they can’t live at home, where do we rate this situation? (If different judgements, place different people’s number on the continuum). 0 10

Any Questions ?