Engaging Fathers in Children Social Care

An Introduction

Dr Gavin Swann

Fathers Excluded from Children Services The Benefits of Engaging Fathers Breaking Down Barriers Project What next? Can you really save millions and

still keep children safe? A Call to Action

Contents

My Presentation today is an Advert in an attempt to encourage you to attend the workshop this afternoon

An Advert

Men perceived as worthless and or a threat A cyclical process exists where fathers’ gendered identity

is polarised meaning fathers are poorly constructed and are ill-prepared for either partnerships or parenthood

Defensive practice The profession has been blind to father involvement This blindness means abusive men are not held to

account, whilst abused woman and children remain at risk, perpetuating the cycle of abuse

Fathers Excluded from Children Services

I did not want to include fathers

My Prejudice

It is now recognised that, in most cases, child centred and sensitive care giving by both parents through complimentary parenting, (where parents agree role differentiation), contributes to a wide variety of positive child outcomes.

‘Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring’.

father involvement undeniably influences psychological, behavioural, social and cognitive outcomes in children.

The Benefits of Engaging Fathers

Researching Children’s Social Care A Whole System Approach Systemic assessment A case file audit Literature Review 18 months of Action Research / Co-operative

Inquiry ICS A second case file audit

Breaking Down Barriers

1. To design and implement a co-operative inquiry to include fathers in Children’s Social Care

2. Create and adopt a fatherhood strategy with realistic goals and targets

3. Identify objectives for engagement with fathers 4. Refine the existing referral and assessment process 5. Use data collection system/s 6. Ensure that training is available for staff at every

level of the organisation/s in father-inclusive practice.7. Establish better pathways and referral processes 8. Ensure appropriate focused and gender specific

information

Aims of the Research

Male Responsibility The Personal Fear The Need for Positive Male Role Modelling Organisational responsibility Male Responsibility Services for men are few in number, feminised, fragmented, poorly

understood and not easily accessed Men are collectively socialised to avoid therapy and similar services Services to men need to be designed around the needs of men,

particularly non-residential fathers, to improve child safety and family dynamics.

Research Findings

Include fathers in your practice; in assessments and interventions

Discuss fathers in supervision Discuss in multi-agency meetings the

identification of fathers Encourage conversations in your teams

and organisations about father involvement

Research Conclusions

From a financial perspective, local authorities are missing opportunities for children to be placed with fathers or paternal extended families thereby saving millions of pounds a year in foster placement and residential costs.

The Next Step – the Croydon Model

What next? Can you really save millions and still keep children safe?

Father Inclusive strategy in all organisations (e.g. in Health – midwifery, Health Visiting, in Welfare, in Education

Supporting fathers to become involved in their children’s lives will reduce pressure on services and systems

A Call to Action

How to engage fathers How to convert your practice and your

thinking How to support your team and organisation

to engage fathers To get access to a Best Practice Guide How to save your organisation money by

engaging fathers then come to the plenary at 1.30 pm this afternoon

If You want to Know more about

Copies of the thesis and the best practice guide to engage fathers is available from

Gavin.swann@croydon.gov.uk

Questions