Transcript Document
Fathers Matter – Child Protection Workshop Cathy Ashley Chief Executive, Family Rights Group 5th April 2005 Rationale for the project • No pub. research study in UK that exclusively examines role and involvement of fathers in child protection process • Evidence from wider research projects, FRG and partner organisations is that there is a: – systematic failure of health and social care services to engage fathers and father figures; – Failure to listen to fathers’ concerns; – Failure to provide appropriate parenting support to fathers. What we do know • Birth fathers esp. those without parental responsibility routinely overlooked in assessment process – Social workers recorded information about key family members who were NOT part of the household in only a quarter of cases compared to 70% recording for those living in the household. (Hedy Cleaver and Steve Walker) • Child more likely to be on CPR if mother responsible for maltreatment either because she is sole carer or because professionals regard her as the main carer. (M Ryan) Involvement of fathers • Family group conferences are significantly more successful that statutory processes at involving fathers and father figures - Fathers attended 61% of FGC compared to 21% of review meetings (March & Crow) - A father or father figure was present in 88% of FGCs studied, compared to 16% in child protection case conferences (Holland and Scourfield et al 2004, Thoburn et al 1995) - Holland et al note in there study there were three cases where fathers who were normally domineering were described as being restrained by the style of the conference and the presence of children. What is the aim of the project? To explore and dismantle the barriers encountered by fathers and paternal relatives whose children are involved with social services. The project will: • develop information and advice materials to improve the way fathers are informed, involved and supported by professionals to carry out their parenting role • identify steps that could be taken within the administrative and legal systems to support the safe involvement of fathers with their children. The project – process • Analysis of calls to advice line • Electronic discussion board to support fathers (www.frg.org.uk) • Electronic notice board for practitioners to highlight events, research, good practice • Literature review • Focus groups • Interviews • Survey of local authorities • Piloting of materials/effective practice with young fathers • Seminars for social workers and for legal prof • Reader and advice sheets • Training materials and courses • Conference Family Rights Group Analysis of sample of calls to advice line from fathers 1. Family Support – lack of • E.g. – single father recently moved with his four children, eldest are starting to play truant. Difficulty coping. – widowed orthodox Jewish father with 17 children aged 18 months to 18 years. 15 year old has cerebral palsy. SSD offering 1 months support 4 hours a day, taking view support should be from community. Single father – triplets, 2 have autism & on care order living at boarding school during term time. Concern re adequacy of care setting and ed provision. The other child lives with him. Care package agreed as part of care proceedings not being implemented. 2. Child protection – fathers’ fears not listened to • E.g. – Father called - 10 year old son ringing in tears from mother’s home to say step father has been hitting him. – Daughter in special needs school, sexually abused by another pupil. School and SSD not responding to father’s concerns. – Caller is partner of father of 2 children who live with their mother – they had concerns that children physically abused, but despite writing many letters no action taken until step-father seen to hit the children and CP investigations initiated. SSD refused to investigate complaint re delay. – Divorced, fears mother neglecting the 2 children. Referral to SSD who investigated and took NFA. Told by solicitor if go back to court re specific contact arrangements then may lose PR! 3. Child protection – role of fathers • E.g. – 10 year old son lived with ex-partner who denied him contact. Discovered boy has been voluntarily accommodated. Approached SSD to establish contact and care for the boy, mother is opposed to this. SW supports reunification with father but taking a long time. – Saw picture of abandoned baby on news and thinks he is the father. Contacted agencies but told they were not able to share info. Thinks mother and child reunited but not in contact with the mother. – 2 year old child lived with mother. Now on CPR because of neglect. Asked by sw 2 weeks ago to care for daughter as expartner is homeless. Mother has not been in contact so “(new) wife is having to stay at home to look after the child”. Father does not want child to live with him permanently. 4. Child protection – accusations leading to counter allegations against fathers E.g. - Father claims mother of child is alcohol and drugs dependent and involved in prostitution incl. relationships with violent men.. Child not attending school regularly backed up by school. Contacted SSD who said couldn’t do anything. Mother denied contact and disappeared abroad for while. Applied for RO, court ordered S37 inquiry. Mother now making counter allegations incl DV. Feels he’s being treated by SSD as the accused. - applied for contact order for daughter, now allegations of sexual abuse, and judge has stopped contact until s37 report prepared 5. Child protection –risk from fathers • E.g. - Father convicted of downloading sexually explicit images of children. Imprisoned for 4 months. Returned home, children under cont. assessment. Father underwent treatment prog for a year. He is farmer. New SW now saying he must leave home, he fears bankruptcy of farm if leaves and is suicidal. - schedule 1 offender, was abused as child and went on to abuse daughter from first marriage and imprisoned. Now has 2 children from second marriage. Local authority deregistered children. Moved and new LA says he should have undertaken therapy and placed kids in foster care. He’s offered to move out of him in interim until court hearing but they’ve refused. Court granted freeing order for adoption. - 3 step daughters – older on child protection register because caller hit her. Now SSD want other children to go on CPR, caller says this is because others have lied and he got angry with social worker.