1. Housing and Social Work Services/ Social Work Service Caring Dad’s, Safer Children

2.  It has been convincingly documented in the empirical literature that child exposure to domestic abuse has negative effects on children’s development and this was evident in our timeline that we completed for our child that we focussed on as a test of change in Workstream 3.  Workstream 3 undertook a small test of change to try to establish what might be the key themes that affect children who are starting primary 1 and who are not meeting their developmental milestones as a way of identifying changes to practice that might make a difference. The Health Visitor, Depute Headteacher and Social work jointly audited a case where the child had not been meeting their developmental milestones at nursery and was getting ready to start school.  A number of areas were identified but key was the impact of the child’s fathers’ behaviour on his child’s development. It was clear that even when the child’s mother took protective actions and ended the relationship, the past behaviours and continuing behaviours were having a detrimental impact and where there is some level of ongoing contact, the father’s behaviours are significant to the child’s wellbeing and healthy development. Context

3.  It was agreed by Workstream 3 that a pilot of the Caring Dad’s/Safer Children Programme should be explored as an early intervention child centred fathering programme  This is a group programme for men who are experiencing difficulties in their families because of their abusive or violent behaviour and want to improve relationships with their children and partner or ex partner. This should have a positive impact on children’s well being  Staff should become more confident in working with fathers who perpetrate domestic abuse in relation to the impact their behavior has on their child’s well being.

4. Changes/Improvements  A cohort of staff from social work have now been trained in the programme  Mentoring is in place from NSPCC to support a pilot of the groupwork programme  We are in the process of developing an information leaflet and scoping out potential appropriate referrals for the pilot programme  It is hoped that for the men who participate in the programme, there will be evidence of change which impacts positively on the children

5. Who is involved?  A group of social workers have been trained to deliver a pilot of the groupwork programme  Workstream 3 maintain an overview  The multi agencyDomestic Abuse Screening Groups are also involved in maintaining an overview of the difference the programme might make

6. Next Steps  Develop a leaflet and a resource library for the groupworkers to have available  Identify potential men who would be appropriate for the programme  Allocate tasks in relation to the pilot programme to the trained staff  Ensure all practicalities are in place- transport/venue/supervision for staff

7. “So What?”  Ability to have better functioning families if they stay together and more positive contact if they don’t but also to ensure the father understands how his behaviour affects his child and leads to him modifying his behaviour.  This should lead to improved outcomes evident in the well being web completed by children before and after the programme.  It should also be possible to see increased confidence for the children’s mothers and less stressful family relationships. The well being web used before and after the programme should help to demonstrate this for the mothers also

8. Investment of Resources  Substantial and significant staff time from social work  Admin resources and materials to support work  Funding from EYC to purchase training and mentoring from NSPCC

9. For More Information  Diane Dunn, Senior Officer dunnd@northlan.gov.ukdunnd@northlan.gov.uk  Iain MacAulay, Service Manager macaulayI@northlan.gov.uk macaulayI@northlan.gov.uk  www.caringdads.org www.caringdads.org  nspcc.org.uk/fighting-for-childhood/our- services/services-for-children-and-families/caring- dads-safer-children  www.baspcan.org.uk (evaluating the outcomes of the caring dads safer children programme) www.baspcan.org.uk