Family Workers Case Study 1
Family Background - Mother suffering with depression, low self-esteem and low
confidence who has two children. A daughter 18, with who she has a strained
relationship, as she lives outside the area and a son, 14 years old, who is on a court
referral order and has ADHA, learning difficulties and challenging behaviours. The
family matched the criteria for the troubled families programme in Staffordshire.
Description of life before the Intervention - As part of the Family Intervention
Project (FIP), the keyworker visited and discussed with the family what they wanted
to change. An action plan was agreed by all family members which included;
discussions with the mother around ‘progression to work’ and building confidence
and self-esteem and one to one work with the son on anger management.
The keyworker took over as Common Assessment Framework (CAF) lead and
encouraged more involvement from the school attended by the son and Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). That include; Doctors / Consultant
Psychiatrists; Mental Health Nurses; Mental Health Practitioners; Clinical
Psychologists; Occupational Therapists; Art Therapists; Child Psychotherapists;
Family Therapists; Social Workers; Paediatric Psychologists.
This also involved liaising closely with Young Offenders Team (YOT) to discuss an
action plan for the 14 year son. The FIP team were involved when the sentencing
was carried out.
Result of Intervention – from the FIP being put in place and assisting the family the
mother has become involved on the Groundworks programme*, taken a certificate in
Safeguarding Children and gone on to enrol on the Homestart Volunteer training.
This valid experience has given the mother the ambition to wanting to work with
children in the future, specifically children who have special needs.
Additionally the mother had become more involved and assertive in her relationship
with the school, making a more fluid relationship between home and school.
Furthermore she is now pursuing a SEN for the 14 year old son, to assist with home
and school life.
There is now growing developments with the 14 year old son who is attending
TASKWORKS programme** that the keyworker sourced in the local area. The
programme has enabled him to improve on his social skills, esteems and confidence
and is thought very highly of by his peers in the group.
Home life for the family continues to be challenging, but they are recognising how to
overcome difficulties and increasing their capabilities of dealing with issues.
Additional information/feedback from the family about FIP
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Troubled family worker is seen as ‘alright’ by the son and that ‘she listens to
them’.
Mother has stated that ‘she had worker before but nothing changes’ howver
after the FIP she feels that ‘in a short space of time things are moving and are
a lot more positive’.
They as a family feel supported but in control.
* Offering assistance to young adults, offering work experience, qualifications,
practical skills, community projects and a residential week. It’s a life-changing
programme designed to boost confidence and open the door to work or further
training.
** A programme where the parents, school and son meet and discuss any problems
and how they can be overcome to make the young adults time at school and at
homes easier for all parties included. They also take part in workshops as a family
e.g. making items out of wood.