The use of whole family assessment to identify the needs of families ...

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STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL: Department for EducationThe Use of Whole Family Assessment to Identify the Needs of Families with MultipleProblems“It’s the whole family moving on together, rather than as anindividual.” (Practitioner)Identification of Additional Needs5.4 The whole family assessment process provides the opportunity to identifyadditional needs, which previous individualised approaches to assessmentmay not have been able to pick up. This means that practitioners are able toidentify issues which may have stopped the family engaging in the past, ormaking progress, or gaps in support: “Professionals who engage with theprocess understand that CAF+ is a much safer and more supportive way ofworking”.The Intensity of the Assessment Process5.5 The intensive nature and length of the assessment process means thatpractitioners are able to develop relationships with family members, whichhelps facilitate engagement and trust, and ensures a much more accurateassessment of need. The intensive nature of the assessment process andsubsequent (integrated) support delivered also means that local authoritieshave been able to swiftly identify child protection issues and takeappropriate action. These issues have been identified because, for example,staff undertook unannounced visits to the family over the weekend.5.6 Furthermore the intensity and integrated nature of the support providedmeans that other agencies are better informed about families’ needs.“... as soon as you start doing work they [social workers] are soglad you are working with the family because as a result ofPathfinder staff visiting two to three times a week socialworkers are getting the information that they wouldn’t be ableto get because they can only visit once every three weeks.Which means they are on top of the case and are appreciatinghow useful the [Pathfinder staff] input is.” (Practitioner)“If we plan changes in review meetings [Pathfinder staff] canrespond to that immediately and can be gathering evidencebecause they are in so frequently: they can respond quickly towhat the social worker needs.” (Practitioner)37
Department for EducationThe Use of Whole Family Assessment to Identify the Needs of Families with MultipleProblemsProvides a More Comprehensive Support/Action Plan5.7 The depth of information provided results in the development of a morecomprehensive support/action plan, which should be more focused onmeeting the needs of all family members. The process of regular reviewmeans that the action plans developed are living documents, which areconstantly updated and revised, to reflect the changing needs of familymembers.5.8 It is often difficult for practitioners to understand fully the complexities offamily life, and how different members of the family are affected by othermembers’ actions and problems. The whole family assessment andsubsequent Family Action Plan places all the families’ strengths andconcerns in one place, enabling practitioners to understand how differentfamily members are affected by different actions. This enables bothpractitioners and families to plan appropriate support.Supports Whole Family Processes and Approaches5.9 The whole family assessment reinforces the family focused approach todelivery and supports processes such as the Team Around the Family andthe production of a Family Action/Support Plan. It provides a good startingpoint for the whole family approach because practitioners are not justconcentrating on the needs of the children or the adults. It allowspractitioners to “really consider the impact of the parent on the child andwhat you can do about it” (Pathfinder Manager).Provides Transparency for all those Involved5.10 Often family support can be complex, and the family and other practitionersinvolved can be confused over who is being supported, what the aims andobjectives of that support is, and which agency is responsible for deliveringthe support. The Family Action Plan provides all key stakeholders with asimple overview of all the support being provided:“It brings all the support together in one document. It stops itbeing unwieldy for the family.” (Social Worker)“Multi-agency care plans clarify for the family, as well asprofessionals involved, roles and responsibilities, as well asidentifying clear aims and outcomes to be achieved.” (Manager)38
Page 2 and 3: This research report was commission
Page 5 and 6: Department for EducationThe Use of
Page 10: Department for EducationThe Use of
Page 43: Department for EducationThe Use of
Page 51 and 52: ANNEX 1: REFERRAL AND ASSESSMENT: P
Page 53 and 54: Example 2 The Hybrid Model: Durham
Page 55 and 56: Blackpool is considering a new way
Page 57 and 58: Family DetailsSurname Forename DOB
Page 59 and 60: Family InformationPlease give detai
Page 61 and 62: SummaryWhat needs to change?Think F
Page 63 and 64: Development of unborn baby, infant,
Page 65 and 66: SummaryWhat needs to change?Think F
Page 67 and 68: GP’s Details - Are there any issu
Page 69 and 70: Mental HealthHow would you rate thi
Page 71 and 72: ParentingHow would you rate this ar
Page 73 and 74: Contract PlanInitial/Review Meeting
Page 75 and 76: Page 3 of 7Child / Young Person’s
Page 77 and 78: Page 5 of 7PlanTo meet outcomes; to
Page 79 and 80: Page 7 of 7Families views on meetin
Page 81 and 82: What would you like to change? (To
Page 83 and 84: Domain onFamilyAssessmentInitial Sc
Page 85 and 86: ANNEX 3: ISLINGTON COUNCIL WHOLE FA
Page 87 and 88: Circumstances leading to referral a
Page 89 and 90: AddressRoleOrganisationWhole family
Page 91 and 92: 2. Child profilesEvidence-based not
Page 93 and 94: Self-care skills and independenceBe
Page 95 and 96:
Family’s commentsThis section sho
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BOLTON COUNCIL FAMILY PLAN AND GUID
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(Parent/carer(s))____________Identi
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BOLTON: GUIDANCE ON FORMULATING A F
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What to include in a Family Plan A
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Ref: DFE-RR045ISBN: 978-1-84775-807
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