2007 CAFWAA/PeakCare Queensland Inc Their Lives, Our Work National Symposium Workshop Presenters: Kim Copeland and Melanie White Child Safety: From Conversations to Action

UnitingCare Burnside’s Intensive Family Based Service (IFBS) Referrals from NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) Child/ren at imminent risk of removal due to child safety concerns Family in crisis

6 week intensive in-home service Strengths-based framework Workers available 24/7 Flexible and responsive to need Worker caseload of 2 families (up to 20 hours per week with each family) IFBS (continued)

Overview Strengths-based practice Deficit vs asset-based assessment Addressing child safety concerns Strategies and practice From conversations to action

A Framework Provides Clarity adapted from The Family Strengths Community

Strengths-focused practice vs Strengths-based practice

Key elements Change processes are inevitable and constantly occurring Emphasis on language Focus is on solutions, not on problems

Key elements (continued) Pre-session change will occur Exceptions to the issue exist Goal setting Ongoing evaluation

Three Simple Rules 1.If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 2.Once you know what works, do more of it 3.If it doesn’t work, don’t do it again; do something different (Berg, 1999)

Is It Too Risky? Deficit-based model vs Asset-based model

Strengths-Based Risk Assessment Not an alternative for assessing risks Requires that adults be held accountable for their actions Invites parents to take responsibility for their actions

Strengths-Based Risk Assessment (continued) Searches for healthy signs upon which to build Ensures safety and well-being of children Based on an assumption that parents do not want to harm or neglect their children

It’s a Balancing Act Addressing child safety concerns Engagement Positive relationship Motivation for change

Engagement Fluid process Reflective of current issues Join with service user Be open to different views Problem free talk Listening

Engagement Positive Relationship Contracting Expectations and boundaries Contact and Availability Goal setting

Engagement Strategies Noticing and articulating strengths Not rushing in with solutions Listening to past experiences of support services Joining using humour Complimenting

Engagement Strategies (continued) Do something! Be consistent and follow through to show you can be trusted to deliver what you say Talk about the next contact ‘Walk the talk’

Positive worker service-user relationship is one of the most powerful tools a worker has (Woods and Hollis, 2000) Link between relationship and positive outcomes (Lee and Ayón, 2004) Collaborative relationship is integral to the process of change for individuals and families

Questioning The act of asking and answering questions is the single most important tool the worker has. The worker’s decision to ask certain questions and not others may appear haphazard and random to the initiated. But each professional transaction between the worker and the service user is a purposeful one, thus, which questions the worker decided to ask – how, when, and whom to ask or not – has significant impact on the service user-worker relationship. (Insoo Kim Berg, 1999)

Crisis Disaster or Opportunity? A crisis can mean that something new is happening or that something different needs to happen, but is not happening. Crisis signals a danger and an opportunity; that is, a crisis can be a signal that a problem could become worse if some change is not made and it can also be an opportunity to bring about the needed changes in a family unit. (Insoo Kim Berg, 1999)

From Conversations to Action Risk Signs of Safety Bottom lines