Wiltshire Council funded a 12 month project focusing on supporting 'hard to engage' fathers of children under the age of one, including unborn children.
Summary
The risks of adopting a father blind approach in practice are outlined in research including 'the Myth of Invisible Men ' research. Following this research Wiltshire Council funded a 12 month project focusing on supporting “hard to engage” fathers of children under the age of one, including unborn children. We adopted a multi agency approach and developed a clear outcomes framework with partners receiving training from Future Men to support their understanding of what works, in engaging marginalized young men. The project group consisted of Family Key Workers and Lead Senior Social Worker undertaking interventions with fathers alongside the wider partnership model.
The challenge
To improve our engagement with 'hard to engage' fathers in the pre birth and first year of their child’s life to promote attachment. To develop a strengths based model of intervention as opposed to seeing father’s presenting difficulties as risks to their children.
The solution
Adopted a multi-agency approach with partners including Midwifery, Health Visiting, FearFree (domestic abuse support), Turning Point (drug and alcohol support) alongside the Family Keyworker intervention to improve practice in engagement with fathers across the partnership.
The impact
The 12 month project was evaluated by the Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University in February 2023.
We saw an 80 per cent success rate in respect of engagement, and this had a positive impact on 65 children under the age of 1 year. Cases continue to be tracked as part of ongoing evaluation but the threshold of concern for 62 per cent of the cases had reduced including 43 per cent of the cases having closed to the service due to risks reducing and progress made. Threshold remains the same in 22 per cent of cases. One case was re-referred to Children’s Services and one case escalated from child in need to child protection. As part of intervention the use of the Recovery Star measures outcomes for fathers at the start and end of intervention.
The fathers developed a Dads Group. Two fathers attended and presented at the Community Care Live Event in October receiving a standing ovation due to the power of them sharing their experience.
How is the new approach being sustained?
Dads Matter Too has continued outside of the formal pilot. The team continue to provide interventions, consultations and training.
Lessons learned
Relationship based practice is at the heart of what we do in Wiltshire and this project built on that principle and approach, a modest budget that was dispersed with partners and led to measurable outcomes for children and their families. This model was also self supporting post project.
Contact
Sam McFaul,Team Manager, Specialist Assessment, Intervention and Family Time Team. Email: [email protected]