Search results for ‘Author:"et al"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 14
Children's social services and care rates in Wales: a survey of the sector
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Publisher:
- Wales Centre for Public Policy
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 51
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Reducing the high rate of children in care in Wales is a priority for the Welsh Government. This report shares findings from a survey of 792 social workers and leaders in children’s social care across Wales. The survey sought to understand better the factors influencing care rates and differences between local authorities (LAs) with increasing or decreasing rates. Most respondents feel care rates are too high in Wales and in their LA, driven in part by systemic issues. Respondents feel these could be mitigated through more early help. Practices within LAs, and the influence of judges and courts, are also considered to influence rates. Although most respondents feel that their LA and its leaders do their best to protect children, there is concern about “risk-averse practice” in LAs and the wider system. There was also inconsistent use of practice frameworks in LAs. There were many agreements between workers and leaders, but leaders are less likely to identify external factors as influencing rates; are more likely to be positive about children remaining with birth families; and are less positive about care as an option. Major differences between respondents from LAs with increasing versus decreasing rates relate to the practices of children’s social care itself; their views of external pressures are similar. In LAs with decreasing rates, respondents are more likely to think the right children are in care, be positive about the rate of children in care in their LA, be confident about practice in their LA, have positive values about birth families, prefer to keep children at home, and report using an outcomes-focused approach. Findings show that many factors influence care rates, but there are key differences in LAs that have reduced rates, connected to the values of leaders and workers, how consistent those are, and how well they are reflected in LA practices. This suggests that influencing the values and practices of LAs could help address differences in care rates and ensure children and families in Wales receive consistent support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Patterns of practice: an exploratory factor analysis of child and family social worker skills
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Family Social Work, 25(1), 2020, pp.108-117.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is relatively little research on the communication skills that social workers use in direct practice with families. This study explores patterns of practice skill found in child and family social work home visits. The study analysed 127 practice interactions in family homes, coding for seven dimensions of worker skill using a coding framework drawn from motivational interviewing. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to establish patterns of skill within the data and to group key dimensions of skill. The findings make two contributions. First, three fundamental dimensions of good practice emerged, which is characterized as care and engagement, good authority, and support for behaviour change. Second, in exploring the relationship between “care” and “control” elements of social work, skilled social workers were able to combine good authority and empathic engagement, whereas those who were less skilled in use of authority were also less good at engagement. This contributes to debates about care and control in social work. The usefulness of these dimensions for conceptualizing practice in child and family social work is discussed and directions for further research are suggested. (Edited publisher abstract)
What is the relationship between worker skills and outcomes for families in child and family social work?
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 49(8), 2019, pp.2148-2167.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Communication skills are fundamental to social work, yet few studies have directly evaluated their impact. This study explores the relationship between skills and outcomes in 127 families. An observation of practice was undertaken on the second or third meeting with a family. Practice quality was evaluated in relation to seven skills, which were grouped into three dimensions: relationship building, good authority and evocation of intrinsic motivation. Outcomes at approximately six months were parent-reported engagement (Working Alliance Inventory), Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), an eleven-point family life satisfaction rating, the Family Environment Scale and General Health Questionnaire and service outcomes from agency records including children entering care. Relationship-building skills predicted parent-reported engagement, although good authority and evocation had stronger relationships with outcome measures. Where workers visited families more often, relationships between skills and outcomes were stronger, in part because workers had more involvement and in part because these families were more likely to have significant problems. The relationship between skills and outcomes was complicated, although the findings provide encouraging evidence that key social work skills have an influence on outcomes for families. (Edited publisher abstract)
A randomized controlled trial of training in Motivational Interviewing for child protection
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 2018, pp.180-190.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
There has been interest in developing more evidence-based approaches to child and family social work in the UK in recent years. This study examines the impact of a skills development package of training and supervision in Motivational Interviewing (MI) on the skills of social workers and the engagement of parents through a randomized controlled trial. All workers in one local authority were randomly assigned to receive the package (n = 28) or control (n = 33). Families were then randomized to trained (n = 67) or untrained (n = 98) workers. Family meetings with the worker shortly after allocation were evaluated for MI skill. Research interviews gathered data including the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI). Follow-up interviews 20 weeks later repeated the WAI, and other outcome measures including Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) and rating of family life. Between group analysis found statistically significant difference in MI skills, though these was not substantial (2.49 in control, 2.91 MI trained, p = .049). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in any other outcome measures. The package of training and supervision did not create sufficient increase in MI skills to influence engagement or outcomes. Implications for understanding the relationship between skills, engagement and organisational change are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
An evidence based review of the risks to children and young people who are educated at home: final report
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Publisher:
- Cardiff University. CASCADE
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 98
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
A review commissioned by the National Independent Safeguarding Board in February 2017 to explore possible risks in relation to safeguarding, health and well-being for children and young people who are educated at home. It included a rapid literature review; a review of child practice reviews and serious case reviews where home education was a factor; telephone interviews with stakeholders, including home educators and representatives from Welsh Government; and an online survey of home educating parents. Home education was identified as a feature in 11 Serious Case Reviews and Child Practice Reviews. These included families where home education was used as either part of a withdrawal from services following the identification of safeguarding concerns and or part of a strategy by parents that prevented, limited or controlled professional contact with children. Although home education is not a risk factor for child abuse or neglect, where there are concerns for a child’s safety or well-being home education significantly reduces professional access and child safety monitoring opportunities. The review makes recommendations to create a more constructive and transparent partnership between parents and the state when children are home educated. These include recommendations for an enhanced support service and clearer assessment of the needs and well-being of home educated children, and an improved response to children where actual or suspected harm is identified and the child is or becomes home educated. (Edited publisher abstract)
Family safeguarding Hertfordshire: evaluation report
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Education
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 96
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of a 'whole-system' reform of children’s services in Hertfordshire which aimed to improve the way services work with families and improve outcomes for children and their parents. The four key elements of the Family Safeguarding Hub (FSH) are: multidisciplinary Family Safeguarding teams, where specialist adult workers in the areas of mental health, domestic abuse and substance misuse work alongside children's social workers; training in Motivational Interviewing; use of structured tools to support direct work and recording case notes; and the development of outcomes based performance indicators on the use of services by families across partner agencies delivering FSH. The evaluation found that Hertfordshire achieved a huge amount in a short space of time. These included delivering a training programme for all staff; recruitment of new specialist adult workers; creating multidisciplinary teams; introducing new ways of working, and reducing caseloads. The evaluation also highlights four key national lessons from the project: the use of multidisciplinary teams in Children’ services, that training alone to create new ways of working; a sense of ownership and belief in the changes from the leadership team, and the creation of interagency KPIs to measure outcomes. (Edited publisher abstract)
Helping families where parents misuse drugs or alcohol? a mixed methods comparative evaluation of an intensive family preservation service
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Family Social Work, 21(1), 2016, pp.65-75.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Option 2 is an intensive family preservation service for families with serious child protection concerns related to parental misuse of drugs or alcohol. A previous evaluation indicated that it reduced the number of children entering care and, as a result, produced cost savings; however, little data were gathered from families. This study involved interviews with 15 families (46 children) who had received the service, and a comparison group of 12 families (28 children) referred but not provided the service due to no workers being available. Outcomes and experiences were compared, on average, 5.6 years following referral. Findings included a significant reduction in children entering care, and improvements in relation to substance misuse, parental well-being and family cohesion. There was no difference in emotional and behavioural welfare of children. Qualitative accounts were very positive about the impact of the service, identifying effective engagement of parents and key elements of good practice in supporting families to change. The findings provide additional support for suggesting that high quality, intensive interventions with families affected by parental substance misuse can be effective. Key lessons for current attempts to deal with the increase in children entering care and the English government's ‘troubled families’ initiative are considered. (Publisher abstract)
Reclaiming social work? An evaluation of systemic units as an approach to delivering children's services: summary report of a comparative study of practice and the factors shaping it in three local authorities
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Bedfordshire. Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 24
- Place of publication:
- Luton
This is a summary report of a descriptive evaluation of systemic units as a model for delivering Children’s Services. The systemic unit model was developed in Hackney and was more commonly known as the “Hackney Model” or “Reclaiming Social Work”. This report is primarily aimed at managers, policy-makers and practitioners, and therefore presents the findings in a relatively brief form. The study is a comparaison between three local authorities, one of which used the systemic unit model; the other two had a more conventional service structure for children's services. The primary focus of the report is a detailed description of practice in the different local authorities and what factors shape good or poor practice. The report is divided into four parts: Part I provides the context for understanding the study; and Part II looks at the theoretical and methodological approach. Part III considers the implications of the findings, describing the work of children's services, and how teams and units function, for example, in respect of the nature of the families and issues presenting to Children‘s Services. A final discussion chapter brings together findings in respect of the systemic unit model approach compared to the more conventional model for children's services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Reclaiming social work? An evaluation of systemic units as an approach to delivering children's services: final report of a comparative study of practice and the factors shaping it in three local authorities
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Bedfordshire. Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 192
- Place of publication:
- Luton
This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the systemic unit model as an approach to the delivery of Children‘s Social Services - sometimes referred to as the "Hackney Model " or "Reclaiming Social Work". The evaluation is an in-depth comparative description of practice and the factors shaping it in three local authorities, one of which used the systemic unit model. The other two had a more conventional model of service structure, which involved individual allocation to social workers who received supervision from a line manager. The primary focus of the report is a detailed description of practice in the different local authorities and what factors shape good or poor practice. The report is divided into four parts: Part I provides the context for understanding the study; and Part II looks at the theoretical and methodological approach. Part III considers the implications of the findings, describing the work of children's services, and how teams and units function, for example, in respect of the nature of the families and issues presenting to Children‘s Services. A final discussion chapter brings together findings in respect of the systemic unit model approach and identification of key lessons for effective delivery of Children‘s Services more generally. (Edited publisher abstract)
What is the impact of public care on children's welfare? A review of research findings from England and Wales and their policy implications
- Authors:
- FORRESTER Donald, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Policy, 38(3), July 2009, pp.439-456.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge
The outcomes for children in public care are generally considered to be poor. This has contributed to a focus on reducing the number of children in care: a goal that is made explicit in the provisions of the current Children and Young Persons Bill. Yet while children in care do less well than most children on a range of measures, such comparisons do not disentangle the extent to which these difficulties pre-dated care and the specific impact of care on child welfare. This article explores the specific impact of care through a review of British research since 1991 that provides data on changes in child welfare over time for children in care. Only 12 studies were identified, indicating a lack of research in this important area. The studies consistently found that children entering care tended to have serious problems but that in general their welfare improved over time. This finding is consistent with the international literature. It has important policy implications. Most significantly it suggests that attempts to reduce the use of public care are misguided, and may place more children at risk of serious harm. Instead, it is argued that England and Wales should move toward a Scandinavian system of public care, in which care is seen as a form of family support and is provided for more rather than fewer children and families.