AN OVERVIEW

WHO ARE WE? Changing Trax is the overall name for two distinct programmes: Crisis Intervention Service ( 3 workers ) Strengthening Families (1 co-ordinator) CP FIP (1 worker) YCAP (1 worker) Team Manager Admin Assistant Recruiting Volunteers

REFERRAL PROCESS Children must be at risk of accommodation or becoming subject to a Child Protection Plan Help children return home once they have been accommodated. There is substance and/or alcohol misuse in the family Importance of working together- adults and children’s services Allocated Social worker CP FIP work – prevent referrals to social care YCAP working with prolific offenders

WHY WE DO IT… RESEARCH BASE: Home Builder Model in USA Option 2 in Cardiff LAC and Registration figures Hidden Harm

WHAT WE DO…. Short term, intensive service;6 to12 weeks 24 hour seven days a week then follow up at the 4,5,6,8,10,12 month Family crisis Intervention that are strengths based The goal of the intervention is to remove the risks of harm to the child instead of removing the child

WHAT WE DO… Work in partnership with families Transparency Families are the experts Concentrate on behavioural change Focusing on strengths and addressing risks

WHAT WE DO… ENGAGING MEN: Huge resource within families Involving men equally in the process Practical engagement Flexibility in working hours In line with the Gender Equality Duty

WHAT WE DO…. Working with domestic abuse where there is: Insight Willingness to work Empathy Responsibility for behaviour

Some of the techniques we use Solution Focused Practice; families as experts, building on existing strengths, what you focus on grows Motivational Interviewing; how can we help and support people change without threats etc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; understanding the link between thinking and behaviour Focusing on the positives does not mean ignoring the negatives; work to address the risks

MAINTENANCE Skills training Signposting Maintenance Meeting Follow Ups Booster Sessions

DEFINITIONS OF A CRISIS A crucial or decisive point or situation, a turning point A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved An emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person’s life. A time of extreme trouble or danger, often one which threatens to result in unpleasant consequences

THE FAMILY AND A CRISIS People are usually surprised at how much a crisis or trauma affects them. It frequently changes the way they think, their values, habits, feelings and behaviour. It influences most aspects of their life. A major event or crisis in the life of one family member always influences their family. Although it is made up of individuals, a family is a unit. What changes one member, changes the others.

UNDERSTANDING CHANGE

What does resistance look like? Argument: challenging what the worker has said; questioning the worker’s authority; expressing hostility towards the worker Interruption: talking over the worker; cutting off the worker before they’ve finished Denial: characterised by blaming other people; disagreeing with what has been said; making excuses; minimising the impact of their behaviour; expressing reluctance to change

What does resistance look like? Ignoring: person shows evidence of not following the worker’s advice Inattention: characterised by not answering the question; not responding at all; sidetracking onto another subject Paying lip service: not doing what they said they would do

Managing resistance Avoid arguments: arguments are counterproductive and can strengthen the other person’s original point of view. Resistance is a signal to try a new approach! Roll with resistance: perceptions can be shifted with the right approach. Invite new perspectives rather than imposing them

HOW? Active Listening: respond to resistance with non-resistance. Use reflection to check out what the other person means, e.g. ‘so it sounds like you are saying…’. This is less threatening Shift focus: don’t get stuck on a stumbling block, change tactics e.g. look at things from someone else’s perspective Agreement with a twist: e.g. agree with what the person is saying but look at the bigger picture, for instance the behaviour of the whole family not just the individual

HOW? Emphasise freedom of choice: when people feel that their freedom is being threatened they often react by asserting their liberty. Outline consequences if they continue to behave in a high risk manner Reframe information: Give the person a new way to look at the situation by acknowledging their views but offering a different interpretation

Socratic questions – eliciting self motivation Problem Recognition: ‘What makes you think that your drinking is a problem?’ ‘In what ways have other people been harmed by your behaviour?’ What might happen if you don’t change the way that you use drugs?’

Socratic Questions Eliciting concerns: Why are other people concerned about your drinking?’ Where will you be in 6 months if you carry on hitting your partner?’ ‘How do you feel about the children crying when you hit them?’ ‘In what ways does your drug use concern you?’

Socratic Questions Eliciting Intention to Change: Tell me about the reasons you want to change your behaviour?’ What makes you think that you need to change the way you communicate with your partner?’ What would you like your relationship with your children to be like?’

Socratic Questions Optimism: ‘What makes you think that you could change the amount that you drink?’ How will your relationship with your children improve when you stop hitting them?’ ‘What do you think would work for you if you decided to change your drug use?’

AMBIVALENCE People are often ambivalent about change, which can make decisions about changing difficult to make Most behaviours have positive and negative aspects Need to explore these positives and negatives to help people become ‘unstuck’

OUTCOMES 70% of children living at home after intervention More consistent attendance at drug treatment services Increased referrals to alcohol services Reduction in criminal activity Uptake of community resources Fits in well with Signs of Safety

CHALLENGES Culture in Newcastle – risk averse, serious case reviews Maintenance of solution focussed approach (worker ethos, lack of resources and time) Lapses Dependency of some clients Funding for two years

SUMMING UP Changing TraX is a service which helps prevent children becoming accommodated Changing TraX service helps improve family functioning. Changing TraX workers use a combination of techniques when working with families.

Joanna Noon