Children in a Changing World Challenges for Families and Communities

1. Children in a Changing World Challenges for Families and Communities Collaborating with Statutory Child Protections Services to Achieve Child and Family Outcomes

2. Workshop Aims • Share SDN’s journey towards integrated service provision, working across the statutory / non statutory continuum. • To demonstrate that collaboration produces better outcomes for children. • And, that it is complex work, where relationships replace rule books that requires a new level of practice from and between professionals.

3. SDN’s Vision Our vision is a world where: • The promise and potential of every child is realised • Families and communities are strong and caring • Children’s services are valued and well resourced.

4. The beginning of the journey - Organisational Context 2011 Place Based Structure: from a divisional, program focused organisational structure to a place based one - 7 communities in 3 regions. 2013 Pathways for Families: An integrated child centred model of service provision. Collaboration with other service providers as part of localised responses.

5. Hon J. Wood (2008) Child protection is the collective responsibility of the whole of government and of the community.

6. Munro (2012) Addressing individual parts of the problem will only succeed in pushing problems elsewhere…. At the heart, this work involves uncertainty…. Moving from a compliance culture to one that is child centred requires us to grapple with complexity and uncertainty…

7. The journey continues with FACS Local Collaborations and Developing a Common Language Awareness of the Reality: • Transition of families between FACS and BF was often not seamless • Some of the most vulnerable families were falling through the gaps • Child Death Review Report findings.

8. Evidence based approach: • Reclaiming Social Work • Integrated Service Delivery Framework (Early Childhood Sector) • Greatest impact on improving child safety by targeting resources to those who are assessed as high or very high risk.

9. Action Research: • Pilot with local CSC (May 2013) before expanding to other CSCs • MOU to guide the collaboration • Importance of local relationships and responding to local needs.

10. Common Language: • Structured Decision Making • Common practice framework • Information exchange and professional trust.

11. Getting There: Child and Family Outcomes Family One • Young single mother with a childhood history of neglect and sexual abuse,family violence, active attempts of suicide, and drug use. • Two children, 3yrs and 12 months old,displaying concerning behaviors and concerns around neglect.Limited family support also not appropriate.

12. Collaborating with FACS • Mum agreed for the children voluntarily being placed in care, returned to the same carers. • BF continued to support the family and worked with FACS around restoring the children back to the Mother once her Mental Health was better managed. • BF continued to support the whole family, including the foster carers as our main focus was around ensuring consistency and predictability for the children.

13. Regular communication and meetings with FACS Caseworkers, Managers and other services to ensure that there was a common and transparent case plan. • BF explored possibility with FACS of foster family becoming permanent. With support from BF, Mum was able to advocate for the plan with FACS. • Mum has regular contact by phone, school and childcare pick ups, family meals with the whole foster family, day trips with family, and one on one time with the children.

14. What Worked Well • Communication and transparency • Agreed roles, and who the key worker was • Professional respect and a shared language and framework • Shared outcomes for the whole family • A willingness to work “outside the box”

15. Family Two • Single Mother with history and current family violence, drug use, currently on methadone, and mental health issues. • Three children two with diagnosed disabilities and learning delays. • Extensive history of ROSH and non-ROSH mainly reporting neglectand absenteeism from school.

16. Working with FACS • After multiple ROSH reports and ICDs BF is still working with this family. • BF seen as the protective factor and being asked to “monitor the family”. • We are still in the process of developing a common understanding with our FACS partners about the concerns around cumulative harm.

17. Still yet to reach consensus on a common case plan, including the potential of transitioning to a more intensive family support program. • BF is not prepared to close the family so that FACS will be forced to open as this does not necessarily ensure safety for the children.

18. Conclusions: Learnings and Future Directions • Practice confidence overcomes anxiety. • Conversations with children, not about children. “Speaking TO my child and not just about my child.” • Investing in staff and collaborative relationships makes a differenceat all levels. • Takes time to develop practice.

19. Future Directions: • Trauma informed, relational case management practices. Ongoing capacity building. • Team Around the Family. • Staff supervision framework.

20. This practice and evidence based approach not only helps enhance safety but ultimately changes the trajectory of a child’s life .