1
Sure Start Ferryhill/Chilton Evaluation (2005)
Skills and abilities of the dedicated (female)
Fathers Worker
Figure 4: Male attendances at all programme activities 2004
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At the everyday level of programme working, both staff and fathers/male carers
felt that the skills of the current Fathers Worker have been vital in engaging men
locally. In general, men interviewed felt strongly that the worker was doing a very
good job:
She is an excellent worker
She does a really cracking job
2
In particular, staff and fathers/male carers emphasised the worker’s persistence,
hard work and enthusiasm:
Persuading people - she’s never heard the word no
She doesn’t let go - she’ll follow up and follow up and follow up …
She tries her hardest to organise actually as many activities as she
can
She works extremely hard at bringing in dads
She’s just so enthusiastic – to me – it’s partly her enthusiasm I think
– I wish I was as enthusiastic in my job
The current Fathers Worker is able to relate well to men, as the following
comments demonstrate
She just joins in - she’s like one of the lads - she supports you and
she even joins in – you know you could get other people and you
could be uncomfortable type – whereas [the Fathers Worker] just
goes along with it
She’s like a female dad – isn’t she – well she’s just like us like really
The importance of humour in all male groups was emphasised by a number of
fathers and male carers. One father said:
Men mickey-take all the time - specially when you get a group of
men together - you’ve got to have banter - if you haven’t got banter
you haven’t got a group
One father commented on the possible difficulties for the worker in this respect:
It must be hard for her being female and you what all the dads are
like sometimes we give her a hard time - I think we sometimes go
too far with her winding her up and that - but it’s all fun like
3
However, it was clear that the worker concerned was able to respond well to the
‘banter’ of the groups.
She gives as good as she gets
She gives the banter – takes the banter
(N.B. Research has shown that there is a difference in the role and type
of humour in all male as opposed to female groups (Robinson and
Smith-Lovin, 2001)).
The worker herself also talked about the importance of adopting a more direct
manner when working with men. One father commented on this:
if she’s got something to say – she’ll say it – she won’t say – no I
won’t say that
The worker’s ability to be supportive and non-judgemental was also
commented on:
She’ll actually sit and listen and be very supportive.
You can go to her and she won’t judge you.
Finally, the use of an individualised approach was valued:
She doesn’t treat you like a number – she treats you like an
individual person.
Gender issues
There have been suggestions that male workers may work more successfully
with fathers and male carers, for example (Ghate and colleagues, 2000).
However, both the success of the female worker’s approach in Ferryhill/Chilton
and the comments of fathers and male carers above suggest strongly that the
skills and abilities of the individual are much more important in achieving
success, than their gender. Some fathers believed that there might be additional
difficulties for a female worker to begin with, difficulties which the current worker
has overcome:
I think because the worker is a female and she’s working with the
dads – it’s twice as hard – cos she’s having to do twice as much
work to get past the prejudice of the male – but the way she does it is
excellent –
4
Some fathers felt that the gender of the worker did not matter so long as they
were able to do a good job:
She has the job well sorted - it doesn’t bother me that there is a
female worker
One male carer thought that there might be advantages in having a female
worker:
I think it’s good that we have a female rather than a male because I
think if it was a male we wouldn’t be as open as what we are
From the Fathers Worker’s point of view, however, there are important issues for
female workers in working almost exclusively with men. It is important at all times
to maintain a professional but supportive approach.
The Fathers Worker commented that amongst all of the humour and banter, the
men “know where the line is and don’t come over it”. Achieving the right
balance as a female member of staff in a male environment requires a skilful and
perceptive approach, as demonstrated by the current post holder.
(Durham University Centre for Applied Social Research, July 2005)