Family Safety Planning in Denied/Disputed Cases.

One possible way to ensure everyone is on the same page in thinking about Future safety despite disputes about the concerns.

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1. Creating a context for good safety planning.

2. Understanding Specificity and Detail. 3. The possibilities within problems. 4. Involving children in an age appropriate

way.

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Exercise, in groups of 3or 4. Participants Experience.

Your experience of a case that went well, and there was a good safety plan. What were the main things that seemed to make it go well. Be prepared to feed back one or two points.

Your experience of a difficult safety plan , what were the main blocks or obstacles that seemed to get in the way. Be prepared to feed back one or two points.

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Dilemma’s in safety planning, context issues.

Research, and Practice Based Evidence, (Harry Ferguson).

Specificity and Detail in practice. Difficulties, Problems, Opportunities,

Need for Networks. Involving children, editing role. Family Safety Object and review. 

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Alex and Kate Smith have two children, Jake 4 years and Chloe 8 months. Chloe is presented at hospital having allegedly been dropped by Alex

whilst in his sole care. Medical examination reveals linear bruising to Chloe’s cheek, rib

fractures of different ages and subdural haematomas, which the doctors think are non-

accidental in origin. The family are not known to Social Services and the Health Visitor reports positively about the parenting and care of the children until this time. Jake is placed in foster

care and Chloe joins him when she is allowed to leave hospital. Alex and Kate are allowed contact with the children five days per week supervised by social workers. The matter is put before the

Court which has to decide what should happen to the children. Further assessments reveal no

other concerns and both parents deny they have injured Chloe.

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A pre-school girl from Sunday School (Kelly), where Gerry helped as Leader, alleged that Gerry had sexually abused her. The matter was not taken to court but Social Services “substantiated” the allegations based on the detail of oral abuse in the girl’s report. As a result of this Social Services were concerned for the current and future safety of Gerry and Julia’s 3 year old daughter Emma. Julia’s sister Sharon and Julia’s mother have been helpful during the investigation.

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30

Sharon

Julia32Artist Community

Projects

36GerryFinancial Advisor

4Kelly CSA Allegation 3 Emma

Social Workers Church Nursery School Day Care

Sunday School Teacher

MGM

Use research and literature to inform “what ifs”. There is little research in Child Protection about

what constitutes safety. Most research and literature covers incidence,

causation, maintenance, not what resolves difficulties. It is still very useful in informing areas for the safety plan.

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Julia and Gerry start of Safety Planning

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Helping families find ways of caring for their children that enhances their chances of staying safe and reduces the risks/concerns.

The guidelines are co-constructed with parents, children (if of sufficient age and understanding), members of the support network and professionals.

Difficulties become things to solve and create more safety not barriers to work.

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3.3. Explore these same issues with the other Explore these same issues with the other parent, kinship system, and significant adults in parent, kinship system, and significant adults in the child’s lifethe child’s life..

2. 2. ThenThencheck with the parent or parents what check with the parent or parents what they think needs to be covered to convince the they think needs to be covered to convince the main agencies the children will be safe, what main agencies the children will be safe, what will they find easy to do, what will be more will they find easy to do, what will be more difficult.difficult.

1.1. Begin by briefing statutory child Begin by briefing statutory child protection workers on the process and obtain protection workers on the process and obtain their permission and endorsement to their permission and endorsement to undertake the process and their commitment . undertake the process and their commitment . What are the key areas they want to make sure What are the key areas they want to make sure are covered.are covered.

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4. With parent/s or carers explain to children the need to construct some future safety guidelines (refer to words and pics as context), that this is to show the Child Protection agency things will be safe in the future. Check what they think the Child Protection will want to see, and anything they think anyone might be concerned about (depending on the circumstances include the parents or a significant adult in this discussion if at all possible).

5.Draft the explanation utilising the families’ own 5.Draft the explanation utilising the families’ own language and ways of expressing everyday life language and ways of expressing everyday life whereverwherever possible, bearing in mind family‘s race possible, bearing in mind family‘s race culture and religion. Link all of the above to any culture and religion. Link all of the above to any worries/concerns about the children at home, at worries/concerns about the children at home, at school, with peers, i.e. any context where there is the school, with peers, i.e. any context where there is the potential for confusion.potential for confusion.

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6. The FSP should be balanced and not solely focused on the negative or difficult aspects. It should include all concerns. The FSP should be framed with an affirmative beginning and a positive message at the end. The plan should be mainly in the positive ie what people will do, with negatives only put in alongside positives ie a pic of dad alone in house with X through and dad in house with other adults with a tic through it.Make sure there is a home visit to understand the home circumstances and lay out. A home visit is vital.

7. Present the first draft to the parents. Develop and 7. Present the first draft to the parents. Develop and refine the words so that they are comfortable with it refine the words so that they are comfortable with it (but in a way that does not reduce the safety) and (but in a way that does not reduce the safety) and make sure the plan reflects future family life. make sure the plan reflects future family life.

8. Once the parents take ownership of the FSP, the 8. Once the parents take ownership of the FSP, the next task is to ensure that it fully captures next task is to ensure that it fully captures everything the main agencies are concerned about. everything the main agencies are concerned about. Followed lastly by session with everyone to sign and Followed lastly by session with everyone to sign and agree.agree.

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Think of Jodie’s family. What safety would you want in place to

consider contact in the family home? What safety would you want in place to

consider full reunification, given the past physical injuries and the possibility that one parent might have their own complex issues?

Be prepared to feed back one or two key points.

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Family Members Mother: Mari 24 Dual Heritage 2nd Generation Father: Ralph 32 White UK Jodie born Autumn 2006

Hospital age 1 month Apnoea attackage 6 weeks Apnoea attack and rashage 3 months rash possible Apnoea

Previous Child Death Boy Eli age 10 months in 2005 New Baby Due Easter 2008

Fictitious Case Example for Fictitious Case Example for Fabricated or Induced IllnessFabricated or Induced Illness

The Safety Network

Grandmother: dual heritage white UK and black British Great Uncle Frank and girlfriend Jo (Grandpa died 2005, white UK)Godmother: ConnieChurch friends: Pastor Mark and Cheryl etc….

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D.H Black British/White U.K.

XConie

2005

24 32Dual heritage/white UK Black British

Mari Ralph

XEli

4Jodie

Baby due Easter 2011

Church Pastor Mark – friend of Cheryl

Died 2005 10 months

F.I.I. Made up case study

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Family Safety Guidelines - 1Family Safety Guidelines - 1• These guidelines are based on Ralph as the primary carer and Mari as the supportive carer.

• This means Ralph will have to take care of Jodi and the new baby and be responsible for their intimate care.

• Mari will have someone else present at all times.

(this will help to create clarity about future responsibilities as outlined in previous reports)

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Family Safety Guidelines - 2Family Safety Guidelines - 2• Initially, when the new baby is born, Grandma will come to stay.

• Connie will also come every day to help.

• There will be an approved person present at all times.

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• If Grandma or Connie need to go to the toilet etc. they will make sure Jodi is safe in a room with her toys, and take the new baby with them.

• Mummy and Daddy will stay in the kitchen or living room.

Family Safety Guidelines - 3Family Safety Guidelines - 3

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• If there is any sort of emergency, e.g. grandma or Connie is ill, or any time when they need extra help, there is a Rota of helpful people on the family list.

• Ralph, Mari, grandma or Connie will ring one of these people on the list.

• Ralph, Mari, grandma or Connie will ring someone on the Rota.

• There is a backup for advice such as: Health Visitor on Tel: 12345.. Social Worker Tel:23466.. or out of hours for SSD Tel:34567 Pastor Mark Tel:45678.

• Ralph, Mari, grandma and Connie will always phone Children and Young Services social worker to let them know any unexpected change day or night.

Family Safety Guidelines - 4Family Safety Guidelines - 4

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1. Active cover each day and each night2. Need first person in day and first

person in night3. Clear about who does weekends and

what about holidays?4. If all going well progress to non-active

cover

Rota of Helpful PeopleRota of Helpful People

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

DAY First Granny God- mother Connie

God- mother Connie

Granny Pastor Mark

Reserve

Cheryl Cheryl Granny Great Uncle Frank and Jo

Cheryl

NIGHT

First God-mother Connie

Granny Granny God-mother Connie

Great Uncle Frank and Jo

Reserve

Granny God- mother Connie

God- mother Connie

Granny God-mother Connie

Safety Rota for WeekdaysSafety Rota for Weekdays

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Saturday

Sunday

DAY First Great Uncle Frank

Pastor Mark

Reserve Cheryl God-mother Connie

NIGHT First God- mother Connie

Granny

Reserve Granny God- mother Connie

HOLIDAYSGranny will go with the

family to her caravan , she can call Connie for help

Or...Great Uncle Frank and Jo will

go with the family to their apartment in Portugal

Safety Rota for WeekendsSafety Rota for Weekendsand Holidaysand Holidays

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Pretend, what if scenarios Worker thinking of pretend scenarios,

informed by literature Pretend and practise, telephoning and

response. (see Rota) Any difficulties become opportunities to

demonstrate taking the Plan seriously and a chance to add more safety. .

Practise and PretendPractise and Pretend

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Involving children in active rehearsal, using safety object, and telephoning.

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Exercise. Doing one yourself.

Either use case on the video of denied/disputed physical abuse, or sexual abuse. or if you can outline one of your own cases quickly then use your own case.

You need to do at least 6 main pictures for the family to edit. Draw large on large flip chart, for gallery feedback.

20mins

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Based on first raft of Safety Plan for Contact.

Move to a plan for overnight stays involving the network people.

Involve both Parents/Carers in refining the plan.

Present the revised plan to children. Actively involve children in rehearsals

with Safety Network members. Present final plan to all members

Professionals and family Network. Family Reunification

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A list of Services, or Therapies for parents to undertake is not safety.

Safety is “strengths demonstrated as protection over time”. Boffa and Podestra 2004.

Back to the question I posed at the start, We need to be clear with families about what we need them to do and demonstrate that will show us safety.

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Ideally Visit to family one year later. Review words and pics. Review family safety guidelines. Do safety ladder, same paper and

same colour pens, all into a shoe box. Any mark below halfway need to add

one or two safety factors. Consider how long the plan needs to be

in place given type of concerns age of child and response of the network to new information

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Chapter 7 Turnell and Essex 2006 Page 119.

Key areas to cover in sexual abuse and physical abuse concerns.

Chapter 9 Turnell and Essex 2006 Details of safety plans for Physical Abuse and Sexual Abuse cases.

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