Team Around the Family Bethan T James- Service Manager March 2012

National Context Welsh Government Child Poverty Strategy To reduce the number of families living in workless households. To improve the skills of parents/ carers and young people living in low-income households so they can secure well-paid employment. To reduce inequalities that exist in health, education and economic outcomes of children and families by improving the outcomes of the poorest. Families First

It understands that Parents and Families impact on: Attendance Attainment Engagement Self Esteem Aspiration Safety

What is a Team Around the Family approach? It understands that to improve the outcomes for Children

What is a Team Around the Family approach? We have to improve the outcomes for FAMILIES

It expects Services to ‘join up’ around families. FAMILY Health Services School Community Services Preventative Services Leisure Information Services Support Services

Why? To target Resources more efficiently. To ensure Families have equitable access to Services. To stop families ‘falling through the net’. To empower families to solve their own problems. To make it easier to know what is available.

Families and professionals can spend a lot of time going round in circles trying to find the right service to fit a child into Social Care Education Health Youth Service

Well she’s not my problem so she must be yours!

Where is TAF located? EARLY INTERVENTION

Tipping the balance TAF Specialist Services Universal Services The Child and the Family

The Carmarthenshire picture To help develop a TAF approach we have appointed 3 AREA LEADS Iwan Davies TAF Area Lead Dinefwr Hefin Lloyd TAF Area Lead Carmarthen Liz Barney Area Lead Llanelli

What do they do? Ensure they are aware of local services Help schools join up with their community and signpost families to services Provide advice and support to professionals within the community Audit ‘need’ and feed into the strategic development of local services Use their expertise to promote TAF working principles across schools in their Areas

Agencies Engaged School Health Nurses, Education Welfare Officers, School Based Youth Workers, School Link Social Worker, FACT, Sure Start behaviour management project, Home Start, Housing Services, School Based Counselling Service, Wallich Clifford Mediation, Plant Dewi, Citizens Advice Bureau, Towy Community Church, CYCA, Barnardos Young Carers, Educational Psychology, Health Visitors, SUDDS, Primary Mental Health, Youth offending and Prevention Service, Menter Cwm Gwendraeth.

What do we expect from schools? Engaging with families to help meet their needs Sign posting families to Services Joint problem solving with wider agencies Community focussed schools Seeing past the ‘barriers’ of vulnerability

How are we doing? 11 Secondary Schools have multi-agency systems for identifying families with additional needs. 22 primary schools engaging in TAF approaches. 95 Families discussed at Schools 100 families will have engaged in the Family Learning Signature by the end of the Spring term.

Coedcae, Bryngwyn and their Primary Feeders have utilised a Family Learning Signature. "Previously, intervention was based on our perceived needs. Now the needs are coming from the family." Family Learning Engagement Officer "I think the great thing is it makes Mum and Dad and two or three children or Grandma, equal round the table - they all have the same voice." Parent Services Manager "Some families realise that by doing the Family Learning Signature they identify gaps that they can do something about themselves, others find the gap and look for ideas while others need support to fill that gap.“ Head teacher "I am of the view that all parents want their children to do well, but its just some people have got more idea than others on how to do it. It’s about getting the right support and the right intervention in with the families and The Family Learning Signature can do that.” Head teacher

Supporting families to support Attendance 2 boys issued with a supervision order for poor attendance at school. When the family were offered help they identified a need for support with establishing family routines. Strengths were identified within the family and these were maximised. Family goals and targets were set. Parents felt valued and in control The children felt ‘parented’.

Overcoming poverty to enable families to flourish School identified a child with self esteem issues impacting on engagement in PE, attendance and social interaction. During a home visit a range of domestic problems were identified as a result of poverty: expensive heating and hot water systems that meant that the family could not always afford to be warm and clean. No washing machine. Grants were identified to support the family. They were linked into local support services. A new washing machine was provided under the Swalec scheme. School were understanding of the child’s situation and offered her more support (eg: providing PE kit and food for cooking lessons). A happier home, less stress, more support = a happier child more able to engage in learning!

Desired Outcomes Increase school attendance for vulnerable learners Increase social engagement and inclusion in youth and leisure activities for vulnerable learners Reduce inappropriate referral to specialist services Reduce NEET Reduce first time entrants into the youth justice system Reduce number of looked after children Reduce number leaving school without qualifications

Contact Dinefwr Area – Iwan Davies Carmarthen Area – Hefin Lloyd Llanelli Area – Liz Barney

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