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The 'Similar but
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18 Nov 2008
Carefully Constructed
at the
Sign Of The Serif
FAQ - Frequently Asked QuestionsChild and Family Solutions is a Child Protection Consultancy based in Bristol, UK. We provide expert assessment services to statutory authorities and the Court, also to individuals, using an approach that builds upon many years' experience in Child Protection work and is informed by a Systemic Family Psychotherapy perspective. We specialise in the Resolutions approach to risk reduction in child protection cases where abuse is denied.
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Our assessment seeks to consider the prospects for rehabilitation of the child to its parents or carers in such a way as to ensure future safety. As such, it may form the basis for a proposal for further work with the family. Not every case is suitable for the Resolutions approach; the changes and sacrifices required may be more than can be accommodated safely by family members, or the available safety network around the child may be insufficient. The assessment consists of a review of papers supplied, followed by a series of meetings with professionals and family members in whatever groupings are necessary to form an opinion. Finally, the assessment itself is presented in the form of a report. return to topic list How long does an assessment usually take? Approximately six weeks from the date instructions are received. Experience has shown that this period provides the best time frame for the meetings and discussions that will inform a comprehensive assessment and soundly-based opinion. return to topic list How do you work with denial? Perpetrators of abuse are not always able or willing to come to terms with their culpability, even where a Finding of Fact has been made by the Court to acknowledge that the abuse has happened. The Resolutions approach is not based upon admission of culpability, and does not seek to elicit one. Nobody is expected to 'own up', although this may in fact happen as the programme of work progresses and family members discuss the concerns and understand them better. The work looks forward to future safety, rather than backward to establishing culpability. In this, the approach seeks to change the context, not the individual. A risk reduction programme based upon the Resolutions approach seeks to identify a 'safer' carer where possible. This person will be given the primary responsibility for the child's safety and well-being. The primary carer is then surrounded by a robust network of safe adults and professionals to provide help and support whenever it is needed. return to topic list Does there have to be an identified 'safer carer'? While it may be possible or even preferable in some families to identify one or other of the parents as the 'safer carer', our experience has shown that it is nevertheless quite possible to work with families where neither parent is seen as 'safe' enough, providing:
return to topic list Is Resolutions a purely therapeutic approach? Far from it. The Resolutions approach is an inherently practical response to a problem, namely: how to keep children safe in the care of their parents, even where abuse has happened in the past.
return to topic list Where do meetings and sessions take place? Some sessions may be conducted on neutral ground, or in premises provided by statutory authorities. But the great majority of sessions take place in familiar surroundings: the homes of parents, grandparents and other members of the child's support network. return to topic list Do you work with all the family together? There may be one or two sessions where everyone is together, but usually the sessions will focus on smaller groupings or even individuals, to explore specific needs within the programme. return to topic list Do the children have to be involved? There are no hard and fast rules. Sometimes it is beneficial for the child's voice to be heard, and certainly many children have muddles and confusions as they try to piece together what is going on. The involvement of children has to be approached in a measured way, allowing time for explanations and addressing their worries. 'Words and Pictures' is one of the methods we use to explain to children in an agreed narrative how things have got to where they are. The contents of the 'Words and Pictures' storyboard are usually introduced to the child at some stage, though this may be left to the parents or carers to be done when the child is older. In many ways, the process of co-creating the storyboard, shared between family members, is as important as the finished result. return to topic list How long does a program of work last? This varies a great deal. A full Resolutions risk reduction programme involving parents/carers, members of the extended family and friends, and professionals may involve 12-18 sessions over several months. The work is very flexible however, and each programme is tailored to the needs of the particular family. return to topic list After assessment, can you also undertake the work? Yes. Some cases do not progress beyond assessment, but if the assessment outcome suggests the case is suitable for further work Child and Family Solutions have the experience and resources to propose and complete a program of work. return to topic list Who will do the work? Some sessions are appropriate for co-working with experienced colleagues who are able to bring particular expertise. All sessions are under the direct supervision of Child and Family Solutions. As to who will do the work, the greatest effort has to come from the parents, carers and support network who have sometimes to be prepared to face considerable change and sacrifice in order to bring their children home in safety. return to topic list This is private work. What am I signing up to? Work always commences with one or two preliminary sessions, the purpose of which is to explore whether our approach is likely to be helpful. As with any other professional service we follow the client's instruction and there is a charge for time spent, but nobody is locked in to any long-term agreement. return to topic list What is Systemic Family Psychotherapy? The Association for Family Therapy has a page here that explains in general terms the approach that Systemic Family Therapists take. return to topic list Why is UKCP Registration important? UKCP Registered Psychotherapists are properly trained, qualified, professional and accountable psychotherapists. Each practitioner is registered through one or more of UKCP's 80 member organisations (in the case of Child and Family Solutions, this is the Association of Family Therapy) and must maintain membership of a Member Organisation to maintain UKCP Registration. They must adhere to approved Codes of Ethics and Practice and in the unlikely event of a complaint, be accountable to UKCP Complaints and Appeals Procedures. Source: UKCP website return to topic list To contact Child and Family Solutions, click here. |
Books, Papers & Articles  The Words and Pictures Storyboard: Making Sense for Children and Families Paper published June 2008 in Context, the Magazine of the Association of Family Therapy Margaret Hiles & Colin Luger Andrew Turnell & Susie Essex Margaret Hiles |
