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Family Support
Background
Signposts has developed extensive experience in Family Support Work over a number of years. Work developed within the 5 – 13 age range funded by the Lancashire Children's Fund in both Morecambe and Preston. This led to work being developed with older young people (13 - 19) via funding from Connexions and Youth and Community and latterly within the Every Child Matters Agenda and Children's Centres (Poulton, West End , Heysham and Carnforth) for the younger age range (0-5).
The project is unique in its ability to provide an holistic approach within its core business, that is advice and information. The project has good working relations with social services and aims to work up to their thresh holds in a supportive role.
The project is now funded to deliver Family Support via Poulton and Heysham Childrens Centres for families with a child 0-5, and for the families of Young Carers.
Aim
To provide a Service giving young people, children and their parents/carers, information and choice over the support they receive and involve them in the planning of their services and ensuring families have access to appropriate information to make informed choices about services they receive.
Objectives
• To focus on early intervention based on timely and comprehensive assessment of a child(ren) and their family's needs.
• To improve access to services according to the family's needs.
• To promote physical health, mental health and emotional well-being by encouraging children and their families to develop healthier lifestyles.
• To provide practical support and advice to parents/carers.
• To demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities; recognising the disadvantages faced by vulnerable people living in the community.
• To be innovative and creative in meeting identified need.
• To work within good safeguarding (child protection) practice which protects not only children but also staff and volunteers who have responsibility for them.
Methodology
The Family Support Project is delivered via a referral/casework model with 1:1 family support and home visiting service. It:
• with a co-ordinated and holistic approach to the needs of the family (this would be paramount)
• use a person-centred approach
• works within a multi-disciplinary team (the Signposts team);
• with identified key workers (Team Around the Child - TAC - model);
• work within the Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
• involve an appropriate package of training including positive parenting and other courses as identified
Signposts has an electronic casework model which records information in line with our assessment framework.
The model has had particularly positive results with vulnerable and ‘hard to reach' families in deprived areas.
The Family Support Project has 2 identified levels of Casework;
Level 1 – Generic Family Support (Tier 1)
• delivered by a team of trained volunteers;
• the volunteers would be CRB checked (enhanced)
• trained in Safeguarding procedures to LCC Standards
• supervised and directed by the Signposts Management Team
Duties may include:
• Information & Advice via Signposts
• Practical support in accessing services and activities in the area
• Being innovative and creative in meeting identified needs.
• Working collaboratively with key-workers and multi-agency teams to meet the needs of families.
• Assisting in Fun Days and Activity Days
• Assisting in group work i.e.: work with Fathers
Level 2 – Family Support (Tiers 1 & 2)
• delivered by a Team of Paid Sessional Staff and Qualified Managers. (The team have a variety of qualifications and experience in Social Work, Child Care and Youth and Community Development)
• sessional staff inducted into the casework model
• sessional staff would be CRB checked (enhanced)
• sessional staff trained in Safeguarding procedures to LCC standards
• sessional team would be managed by a suitably qualified Family Support Manager/Coordinator
Duties may include:
• Information & Advice via Signposts
• Assigned Casework
• Working collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team in carrying out a range of Family Support (within a specified time scale to be agreed with the M/D Team)
• Engaging in the CAF process, taking the role of lead professional where appropriate
• Maintaining accurate records
• Reporting to the Family Support Manager/ Co-ordinator
• Reviewing casework i.e.: progression and targets
• Identifying exit plans and submitting reports for Case Reviews/Conferences.
• Delivering ‘bespoke' packages of 1:1 Parenting support as identified by the Multi-disciplinary Team and/or access to relevant Parenting Courses (appropriate to the family's needs)
Family Support Manager/Coordinator:
• The Family Support Manager/Coordinator would attend the Multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss referrals and the relevant casework required.
• Specific work/activities would then be tasked to the appropriate agency with an agreed period for delivery.
• Pathways to multi-agency working would be established i.e.: information sharing.
• The Family Support Manager/Coordinator would ensure a high standard of professional conduct in dealing with all members of staff, families and other services.
• The Family Support Manager/Coordinator would develop appropriate support plans for the families, to be agreed with them in consultation and carried out by an appropriate member of the Signposts Family Support Team.
• The Family Support Manager/Coordinator would hold regular Signposts casework management meetings; reviews of casework; monitoring and evaluation of service; supervision of staff within the Family Support Team; giving regular feedback to the Signposts Chief Executive and the Multi-disciplinary Team.
• The Family Support Manager/Coordinator would receive supervision from the Signposts Senior Management Team and overall management and direction from the Signposts Chief Executive.
Scope:
• To provide a model of Family Support via the Voluntary Sector which addresses and responds to the Government's strategy on Every Child Matters and Children's Centres.
• To be involved at a strategic level in the implementation of new and innovative ways of multi-agency working and information sharing.
• To establish effective links with neighbouring communities to provide a ‘seamless service' with access to a full range of Family Support services via Children's Centres, extended schools, education welfare and prevention services and the Signposts organisation.
Conclusions:
Good quality Family Support requires a well-trained, focussed, enthusiastic team who can respond to a referral within 48 hours and begin to actively work with the family on a regular basis over a specified time scale.
Levels of funding determine the service that can be offered.
The most effective way to support ‘families in need' in the short term is to be responsive, sensitive, professional and caring – This is the Signposts Family Support Team.
Refer to Signposts - Referral form – PDF and Word Version
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