Annual Report 2012 - Lifeline Darling Downs

Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd 2012 Annual Report
Toowoomba Family Intervention Service (FIS)
by Jeanie MacDiarmid, Senior Practitioner Cluster 1
& Kate Greener, Manager State Funding
The Toowoomba Family Intervention Service supports families who are subject to statutory
intervention by the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services). The principal aims
of the service are (1) to preserve families where a child remains living at home under the
ongoing intervention and monitoring of Child Safety Services; and (2) assist in the
reunification of the child with their family from an out-of-home care placement where it is
determined to be in the best interest of the child. This program is funded by the Department
of Communities.
The Team
There have been several changes in staff for the Toowoomba Family Intervention
Service over the last 12 months. Jeanie MacDiarmid commenced as the Senior
Practitioner Cluster 1 on the 5 th September 2011. At that time, the Toowoomba
Family Intervention Team consisted of Kylie Fordyce and Jodie Jackson. In January
2012, a part-time (2 days a week) staff member, Asha Honeysett, commenced with the
program. Asha has also been recruited to assist in the development of a Model of
Practice for the Family Intervention Service. In May 2012, Jodie Jackson resigned her
position to re-locate to Brisbane. At the time of writing, interviews are being conducted
to recruit staff for the program.
Achievements
The Senior Practitioner has conducted a complete review of all processes and forms
pertaining to this program and has devised up-to-date forms and processes for use in
this program.
Staff of FIS have also undertaken several relevant professional development courses
and workshops, including training in the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale and
the Bringing Up Great Kids parenting program, because of these trainings staff have
up to date skills which they will use to support the clients.
The program has worked with a total of 24 families during this period with successful
outcomes for 13 of those families.
Challenges
One of the greatest challenges for FIS staff is to engage the families in a meaningful
way. All of the program referrals come from Child Safety Services and client families
are often reluctant to engage with the service as it is often seen as an extension of
Child Safety Services. It is therefore very important that staff have the ability to build
trusting relationships, based on openness and honesty, very quickly. Research has
shown that this is more easily done by working with the family in their own home so all
therapeutic work is carried out in the family home. The ability to build trusting
relationships quickly will always be a challenge for any family intervention service.
Future directions
The Toowoomba Family Intervention Service has received funding for another three
years. Consideration has been given to the possibility of conducting 12 week parenting
programs with client families. Continuous review of program processes and structure is
also planned.
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