‘GEEZA BREAK’ SUPPORT SERVICES TO FAMILIES / GRANDPARENTS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Voluntary Organisation Multi-source funding package including Social Work Services Established for over 13 years Registered with the Care Commission

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Primarily service available within East Area Team Launch in February 05 of 2 nd Generation Care - Working in partnership with the Glasgow Association of Family Support Groups

AIMS OF SERVICE To support the most vulnerable families who have no contact with other agencies To help families remain together To enhance parenting skills To encourage community involvement To work in partnership with statutory agencies to enhance the quality of children’s lives To give unsupported parents/carers a break

SERVICES PROVIDED Respite Care Service Respite Sitter Service Respite Support Service Centre Based Respite Side by Service Parents Groups

RESPITE CARE SERVICE Respite Carers are fully vetted and assessed Planned and emergency overnight care Day care Care plan

RESPITE SITTER SERVICE Sitter service in families own homes Larger sibling groups Children with additional needs Establishing routines within the family home 4 hour sessions Planned overnights can be provided in specific circumstances

CENTRE BASED RESPITE Available during school holidays T.O.F.F.E.E. Club – St Ann’s Primary / 2 nd Generation Care based with in the Millennium Centre PossilPark Huge Demand for service – most vulnerable children offered service Supplemented by purchasing vacant After School places

SIDE BY SIDE Intensive one to one support for parents Parents affected by mental health and/or addiction issues Buddying Mentoring Home Support Health Strategy Group

REFERRAL PROCESS Duke Street Office Family Circumstances – reason for referral Family Details – Children’s information Social Work Involvement Care Plan Type of Service Requested Agreement of Family

SERVICES NOT PROVIDED Befriending Service Escort Service Home Help Service Transport Casework

Referral Criteria Children aged 0yrs – 16yrs Parents experiencing stress, crisis or isolation Parents/children affected by disability Parents/children affected by medical conditions including mental health issues

Referral Criteria Parents going through a rehabilitation programme for addiction issues Grandparents / extended family members who have care or responsibility of a child through Drug or alcohol misuse. To prevent family breakdown

Case Study Parent made a self-referral to Geeza Break in Presenting issue was aggressive behaviour of her two sons, at that time aged 5 and 7 years and parent’s inability to manage this behaviour. Initial task was working with parent on parenting skills and assisting her cope in crisis situations After a period of 7 months, parent was motivated enough to allow service to be withdrawn.

Case Study Over the years there was recurring referrals, mostly for crisis situations and intervention was intensive and time limited, re-enforcing work already carried out and helping parent set new limits and boundaries. As the children grew up the parent became increasingly unable to deal with the changing needs of her children and the challenges of being a parent.

Case Study Gradually she abdicated her responsibility as a parent and the children were in the main unsupervised and allowed to ‘do as they liked’. The children now 15, 13 and 9 years, opted out of school and their behaviour was increasingly violent and aggressive, they were involved in gang fights, alcohol and drug use.

Case Study Input by Geeza Break Regular weekly overnight respite for the two-year old child, primarily to offer support to the parent but also to monitor the child’s welfare.

Case Study Weekly respite for the 3 older children using a male respite sitter to give a positive male role model. Intensive input by Side by Side to support the parent on issues of setting limits and managing behaviour. Input also on establishing household routines, especially in relation to school attendance. Motivation and confidence in dealing with alcohol issues was another key feature of the intensive support provided.

Case Study Outcomes Referral to Social Work Services and support to parent through the Children’s Hearing System. Recognition by parent of the positive input by Social Work Services. Referral to Addiction Services for parent. Whilst still using alcohol, parent is acknowledging the difficulties this causes her and wants to reduce her dependency on alcohol, particularly during stressful situations. Level of alcohol now reduced. Work is still ongoing. Referral to Family Support Service to address the ongoing issue relating to previous sexual abuse.

Case Study Children now attending school on a regular basis Level of offending behaviour, dramatically reduced. Standard of physical care for 2 year old has increased and as a result child protection procedures did not need to be implemented. Despite acute difficulties within the family, children have remained at home and have not needed to be accommodated by the Local Authority. Practical and emotional support from the extended family has been encouraged and is now being used by parent.

Case Study Conclusion The situation described above is typical of the family situations that Geeza Break works with. Some of the major contributors to the changes were as follows: On all occasions, the family made a self-referral. This evidences motivation to change and enables the organisation to work along side the parent to effect this change. Offering a range of support to the family both practical and emotional. The issues for this family were complex and varied. It was important that all issues were addressed, but in the context of what else was happening within the family setting.

Case Study Trust was a major issue for this family, as parent feared children would be removed and taken into care. Time is needed to build relationships and allow parents the opportunity to experience positive input. Over the years we have been operational, establishing trust has proved to be one of the major influences in promoting lifestyle changes. Local recruitment of respite providers and family support workers enhances the skills and knowledge of the local community as well as providing reassurance for families who the service.

Further Information Geeza Break 312 Duke St Dennistoun Glasgow G31 1QZ Tel: