20 march 2007meriden conference valuing families working with families when parents have learning...
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20 March 2007 Meriden Conference
Valuing Families
Working with families when parents have learning disabilities
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
FWA’s direct services:
“work with individuals and families, helping to build on each individual’s strengths to overcome obstacles and to provide practical and emotional support when they are at their most vulnerable.”
(Annual Report 2005-06)
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
What do we do?
Work in people’s own homes: Engage with and build relationships Provide models of behaviour
Prevent crisis Contain Monitor – alert other services if needed
Befriend Value and increase self-esteem
Involve Opportunities to develop
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Valuing People: a new strategy for learning disability (HMSO 2001)
“People with learning disabilities can be good parents and provide their children with a good start in life, but may require
considerable help to do so.”
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Valuing People: a new strategy for learning disability (HMSO 2001)
“ …in some circumstances a parent with learning disabilities will not be able to meet their child’s needs.
However, we believe this should not be the result of agencies not arranging for timely and appropriate support.”
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Barriers for parents Stigma Fear (disability/losing children) Uncertainty & complexity Feeling “on trial about parenting abilities” Support for parenting skills and/or
capacity Impossibility of parenting without family
and social networks Access & reuniting with children Recovery impeded by anxiety
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
‘Valuing Families’
Supports families when parents have learning disabilities
We work with : Parents Children Other family members School Other agencies
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Entrimonh jifomt Mcusny hsin hshstg
Social Services8 Dhfkjd Road
Town
Mr and Mrs FreerAddress
Dear Mr and Mrs Freer
Fu: Kelly Freer 3.3.02
I write thfi trh you hsuin fjdoin mef a aksldui fdjiun fghd playgroup Mrs Smith. Dfsgu nsonub hjdky bshjki oshk time. Also nchim hjskut thsiung strangers snjkdth. Mrs Smith also hdkld nshkslworried hsjskelcmdh ksnhuj hjdye hhehglice (nits). Mkajuo losju hinsu gdhtj whsiuny dhsun coat. Hsjit snhe talk hfjudy social services shfkjdl gdfbncjek jo help.
Agshi ndjku njkjhgfdfeio ldskjv ldsk dhdjo visop jk on Tuseday 1.30 p.m.
Ghusim jsnjkd lejahty fsji your jsndhu .
Best hwishd
J. JohnsonSocial worker
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Three things parents with learning disabilities tell us:
“I didn’t know what they meant”
communication is often poor and written info is inaccessible
“They didn’t help, just told me to do better”
unrealistic expectations of them but no practical help
“They were waiting for me to get it wrong”
feel set up to fail
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
What we do
Not what but how we do it Get alongside and agree how we’ll work Befriend and reassure Visit often and cheerfully Get to know the children
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Befriend and reassure
Agree goals Agree with the family what we’ll
work on together
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Visit often and visit cheerfully
Family
A B C D E F G H I J K
Output
Home visit 25 22 1 1 54 4 15 31 8 1 9
Telephone 28 10 1 16 450+ 14 18 28 12 1 5
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Get to know the children
and help them to: understand their situation have more fun control the things they can control
(belongings, school uniform etc)
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
For example - how might this help?
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Find out about people’s learning styles
Not too complicated: Some people learn best if you do it with them Some if you show them first Some if you tell them how and leave them to it
But you have to get to know them to find out
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Break things down into manageable chunks
Help break down routine tasks into their component parts
Reinforce learning so it sticks Give praise and encouragement Be firm but kind Believe in learning possibilities not just
disabilities
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
An example ‘Joe doesn’t like putting
his uniform on’ ‘do you lay them out for
him or does he have to get them himself?’
‘I get them for him’ ‘have you tried getting
him to lay them out on a chair after his bath and before he goes to bed?’
‘his bath??’…
NB this information would not have emerged without a trusting relationship between parent and worker
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
A first bathtime at 6 years old Session 1
The worker and Mrs B: went to the shops and bought ‘Spiderman’ bubble
bath, shampoo, bath toys etc bought Joe some ‘character’ underpants (so he could
choose which ones to wear when he was getting himself dressed – reducing conflict and increasing his motivation to get ready for school)
talked to Joe about having a bath – he was wary but interested
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
“Splish splash…Session 2
the worker made sure Mrs B had a clean towel ready she showed Mrs B how to run the bath (cold in first) and
how much bubble bath to put in they encouraged Joe to get into the bath with the lure of
the bath toys the worker showed Mrs B how to wash his hair without
it hurting his eyes Joe enjoyed his bath the worker made sure Joe’s pyjamas were ready for
when he got out and the worker read a bedtime story
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
I was having a bath…”
Session 3 the worker got Mrs B to run the bath and to check
the temperature Joe needed no encouragement to get in the worker reminded Mrs B how to wash his hair they both enjoyed the bath-time
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Family stability Fewer arguments and conflict Parents not involving children in adult decision-
making Mealtimes, with reasonably healthy meals Reasonable levels of cleanliness and hygiene Times when the family have fun together Better relationships with neighbours Better working relationships with the agencies
involved with a family – e.g. school, G.P etc
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Finally
Life is more predictable
there is more order
there are more times when family members have fun with each other
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
EVALUATION
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Evaluation of services
Building Bridges model Working with families affected by parental
mental ill health (& learning disabilities where appropriate)
Data collected since 2004 6 month pilot Adopted recognised evaluation tools
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Evaluation: outcomes and feedback from other professionals:
"They work with families that most other voluntary sector agencies don't - people who have complex problems - and they provide the kind of service which really helps."
“FWA Building Bridges use the practical, flexible and partnership approach which research indicates is valued by parents.”
(Building Bridges evaluation interim report June 2006)
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Evaluation: early outcomes 62% decrease in family relationship stress 71% increased satisfaction for parents 60% children improved self-esteem/reduced
depression At start, over 50% show clinically significant
stress At close: 78% show reduction in stress
(Building Bridges evaluation interim report June 2006)
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Evaluation: outcomes and feedback
“BB projects exhibit characteristics found by research to be key to successful interventions.”
These include: close attention to ‘getting’, ‘keeping’ and
‘engaging’ parents a strong theory base more than one method of delivery working with both parents and children
(Building Bridges evaluation interim report June 2006)
Meriden Conference20 March 2007
Health & social care professionals say:
“You sigh with relief when they get involved because they do what they say they’re going to do, and they go at the family’s pace.”
“BB family support workers give positive messages to families - they don’t get many of those.“
(Building Bridges evaluation interim report June 2006)
20 March 2007 Meriden Conference
Valuing Families
For more information, please contact:
Rose de Paeztron, Head of Strategic Development
Family Welfare Association
Email: rose.depaeztron@fwaprojects.org.uk
Tel: 07958 681555
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