Working Effectively and Safely with Working Effectively and Safely with Men in Children’s ServicesMen in Children’s Services

Clare RoskillClare Roskill

Freelance ConsultantFreelance Consultant

October 5October 5thth 2007 2007

NewcastleNewcastle

What is a difficult father?What is a difficult father?

Covers a multitude of behaviours Covers a multitude of behaviours In context of Children’s Services a father In context of Children’s Services a father

may be seen as difficult if, for example, he:may be seen as difficult if, for example, he: Verbally abuses staffVerbally abuses staff Fails supervised contact appointmentsFails supervised contact appointments Writes letters of complaintWrites letters of complaint Demands scarce resourcesDemands scarce resources Asks for weekend appointmentsAsks for weekend appointments

A father who is an actual or potential risk to a child A father who is an actual or potential risk to a child through:through: abuse to child or neglect abuse to child or neglect violence to the child’s mother or carerviolence to the child’s mother or carer substance abusesubstance abuse

More controversially, is a father a dangerous father if he:More controversially, is a father a dangerous father if he: is involved in activities away from home that threaten his is involved in activities away from home that threaten his

own life?own life? Is involved in activities away from home that cause Is involved in activities away from home that cause

violence to others? violence to others? works very long hours?works very long hours?

What is a dangerous father?What is a dangerous father?

The best interests of the child are paramountThe best interests of the child are paramountThe same father can be both a risk and a resource The same father can be both a risk and a resource Behaviour is not static and change does happen. Behaviour is not static and change does happen. We need to balance immediate/ medium term safety We need to balance immediate/ medium term safety with possibilities of improved relationships in the with possibilities of improved relationships in the longer term longer term Our own concepts of dangerousness may be Our own concepts of dangerousness may be influenced by our own experiences, and our influenced by our own experiences, and our willingness to engage with such fatherswillingness to engage with such fathersAssessment of dangerousness is not an exact Assessment of dangerousness is not an exact sciencescience

Why work with fathers who are Why work with fathers who are dangerous?dangerous?

They want fathers who: They want fathers who: are good fun; have hobbies they can do with them; are good fun; have hobbies they can do with them;

have moneyhave money are not too hung up on workare not too hung up on work show love and provide physical contactshow love and provide physical contact set boundariesset boundaries support them and are interested in themsupport them and are interested in them

(Milligan and Dowie, 1998)(Milligan and Dowie, 1998)

With few exceptions children want to be in With few exceptions children want to be in contact with their fatherscontact with their fathers

• A threat to women and children, being involved in a A threat to women and children, being involved in a large amount of domestic violence and drugs; large amount of domestic violence and drugs; possibly involved in sexual or other forms of abusepossibly involved in sexual or other forms of abuse(Scourfield ,J, Critical Social Policy 26(2) 2006)(Scourfield ,J, Critical Social Policy 26(2) 2006)

• Of little or no use, being uncommitted to family life, Of little or no use, being uncommitted to family life, unable to take responsibility, or absentunable to take responsibility, or absent(Scourfield, J, see also above)(Scourfield, J, see also above)

• A threat to themselves because of their physical A threat to themselves because of their physical appearances such as skinhead or very large physiqueappearances such as skinhead or very large physique(Ferguson, H, & Hogan, F, 2004)(Ferguson, H, & Hogan, F, 2004)

Social workers working within the context of child Social workers working within the context of child protection may have reservations about some protection may have reservations about some

fathers, seeing them as e.g:fathers, seeing them as e.g:

Different theoretical approaches inform both Different theoretical approaches inform both assessment and treatment assessment and treatment

Attachment theory: Violence seen as a response Attachment theory: Violence seen as a response to loss and griefto loss and grief

Cognitive behavioural approaches: Learnt Cognitive behavioural approaches: Learnt behaviour can be changedbehaviour can be changed

Feminist approaches: male violence as exercise Feminist approaches: male violence as exercise of power over women and childrenof power over women and children

Theoretical approaches (continuedTheoretical approaches (continued))

Solution-focused practice: emphasises finding Solution-focused practice: emphasises finding safe goals for offender/victim/professionals. Does safe goals for offender/victim/professionals. Does not try to explain or predictnot try to explain or predict

Narrative approach: emphasises replacing Narrative approach: emphasises replacing unhelpful life stories and labelling by self and unhelpful life stories and labelling by self and othersothers

(Milner,J, and Myers, S, Working with Violence, (Milner,J, and Myers, S, Working with Violence, Policies and Practices in Risk Assessment and Policies and Practices in Risk Assessment and Management, 2007)Management, 2007)

Risk Assessment FactorsRisk Assessment Factors

Some highly significant factors are (nearly) unchangeable Some highly significant factors are (nearly) unchangeable e.g.e.g.

malemale young low socio-economic groupyoung low socio-economic group povertypoverty low IQ. low IQ. abusive upbringingabusive upbringing previous offending previous offending

““The application of risk assessment within criminal justice The application of risk assessment within criminal justice is a bit like betting on a race when the outcome is known is a bit like betting on a race when the outcome is known in advance”. in advance”.

(Horsefield 2003)(Horsefield 2003)

Therefore a number of highly significant factors Therefore a number of highly significant factors influencing likelihood of violence cannot be influencing likelihood of violence cannot be changed. However there are other more changed. However there are other more “dynamic” factors, some of which may - with very “dynamic” factors, some of which may - with very great difficulty- be open to change, e.g.great difficulty- be open to change, e.g.

employment employment reducing damaging use of drugs and alcoholreducing damaging use of drugs and alcohol victim empathyvictim empathy anger managementanger management impulsivenessimpulsiveness

Public protection re registered sex offenders, violent Public protection re registered sex offenders, violent offenders and others who may pose a serious risk to offenders and others who may pose a serious risk to the public depends on:the public depends on:Defensible decisionsDefensible decisions Rigorous, but not full proof, risk assessment- e.g. Rigorous, but not full proof, risk assessment- e.g. OASys ( Offender Assessment System) OASys ( Offender Assessment System) Delivery of risk assessment plans that match Delivery of risk assessment plans that match public need for protectionpublic need for protection EvaluationEvaluation( Kemshall, H, 2003)( Kemshall, H, 2003)

Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) for the most serious offenders, resulting in (MAPPA) for the most serious offenders, resulting in

closer working arrangements between police, closer working arrangements between police, probation and other local agenciesprobation and other local agencies

NO RISK ASSESSMENT IS FULLY NO RISK ASSESSMENT IS FULLY PREDICTIVEPREDICTIVE

Good Risk ManagementGood Risk Management

Local agencies should:Local agencies should:

Plan and coordinate how each local agency fulfils its respective role Plan and coordinate how each local agency fulfils its respective role

Draw up joint protocols on information sharing – who will share, Draw up joint protocols on information sharing – who will share, how, when and what informationhow, when and what information

Be clear as to the respective roles of the different agencies and how Be clear as to the respective roles of the different agencies and how they will record their involvementthey will record their involvement

Monitor that these roles are fulfilled Monitor that these roles are fulfilled

Agree a joint plan for the evaluation of work undertaken Agree a joint plan for the evaluation of work undertaken

Local agency workers should:Local agency workers should:

Use as rigorous as possible assessments, whatever Use as rigorous as possible assessments, whatever their limitations at this point in time their limitations at this point in time

Be trained to question appropriately re detail, frequency, Be trained to question appropriately re detail, frequency, severity of violence severity of violence

Never condone violence but should be willing to listen to Never condone violence but should be willing to listen to the complexities of individual historiesthe complexities of individual histories

Never accept perpetrator’s denial, minimising or refusal Never accept perpetrator’s denial, minimising or refusal to accept damaging effects of violent behaviourto accept damaging effects of violent behaviour

Receive support and good quality, regular supervisionReceive support and good quality, regular supervision

When and how to involve violent men in When and how to involve violent men in

contact arrangements with their childrencontact arrangements with their children

The contact must be safe and positive for the The contact must be safe and positive for the child. Contact is NOT ALWAYS appropriatechild. Contact is NOT ALWAYS appropriate

Lord Justice Wall Feb 2006: report to President Lord Justice Wall Feb 2006: report to President of Family Division. 29 children from 13 different of Family Division. 29 children from 13 different families murdered by their fathers 1994-2004families murdered by their fathers 1994-2004

In 5 cases contact ordered by court;3 by consentIn 5 cases contact ordered by court;3 by consent Family Justice Council - risk assessment should Family Justice Council - risk assessment should

be undertaken by court in cases of DV, before be undertaken by court in cases of DV, before consent order madeconsent order made

Contact (continued)Contact (continued)LJ Wall stressed need for:LJ Wall stressed need for: further training re DV for those involved in court further training re DV for those involved in court

cases, including solicitors, barristers, judgescases, including solicitors, barristers, judges Victims of DV to be aware of damage to Victims of DV to be aware of damage to

children. It is a failure to protect child children. It is a failure to protect child emotionally (and sometimes physically)emotionally (and sometimes physically)

Where highly conflicting accounts of DV, voice of Where highly conflicting accounts of DV, voice of child should be heardchild should be heard

CAFCASS screening in contact and residence CAFCASS screening in contact and residence applications should be extended nationallyapplications should be extended nationally

Unsupervised contact should not necessarily Unsupervised contact should not necessarily follow supervised contact follow supervised contact

When, if at all, to include women/mothers in When, if at all, to include women/mothers in work with men re domestic violencework with men re domestic violence

Need to consider:Need to consider:

Continuing risks to children and adult victimContinuing risks to children and adult victim

Factors associated with risk of further assaults - history Factors associated with risk of further assaults - history of DV; current stressors; other activity that may provoke of DV; current stressors; other activity that may provoke the DV such as substance misuse; mental statethe DV such as substance misuse; mental state

Perpetrator’s attitude to DV- whether remorseful; in Perpetrator’s attitude to DV- whether remorseful; in denial; extent of motivation to take change; attitude to denial; extent of motivation to take change; attitude to male dominancemale dominance

Be very cautious about joint work with a couple Be very cautious about joint work with a couple experiencing DV unless you are a specialist or experiencing DV unless you are a specialist or you have carried out a thorough risk assessment you have carried out a thorough risk assessment and have agreed with manager that there is little and have agreed with manager that there is little or no further danger to woman and/ or child –or no further danger to woman and/ or child –unlikelyunlikely

But do not ignore the man’s needsBut do not ignore the man’s needs

If he is motivated, try to find a specialist If he is motivated, try to find a specialist perpetrator programme which will help him perpetrator programme which will help him understand his violence and learn different ways understand his violence and learn different ways of behaving. Programmes mainly of up to 75 of behaving. Programmes mainly of up to 75 hourshours

A number offer separate support services for A number offer separate support services for women. women.

Some Strategies and Points for Action for Some Strategies and Points for Action for Father-Inclusive ServicesFather-Inclusive Services

Check whether published policies and procedures set out Check whether published policies and procedures set out specifically how fathers will be involved. They tend to be subsumed specifically how fathers will be involved. They tend to be subsumed as “parents” = mothersas “parents” = mothers

Restructure agency forms so that they encourage the seeking and Restructure agency forms so that they encourage the seeking and retaining of information on fathersretaining of information on fathers

Develop a father-inclusive work culture, with an expectation that Develop a father-inclusive work culture, with an expectation that fathers will be sought out, whether near or far, in prison, in hospital, fathers will be sought out, whether near or far, in prison, in hospital, off the scene. Worker safety should not however be jeopardizedoff the scene. Worker safety should not however be jeopardized

Implement the duty on LA to consult both parents re decisions about Implement the duty on LA to consult both parents re decisions about the child, irrespective of whether the father has Parental the child, irrespective of whether the father has Parental Responsibility or not. Responsibility or not.

Engage young fathers before, during and after their Engage young fathers before, during and after their child’s birth and ensure they have a role to play in the child’s birth and ensure they have a role to play in the child’s life. “Unplanned does not mean unwanted.”child’s life. “Unplanned does not mean unwanted.”

Remember that the most significant father figure may be Remember that the most significant father figure may be a step-father or mother’s partner. a step-father or mother’s partner.

Develop local resources that welcome fathers. Do not Develop local resources that welcome fathers. Do not assume these necessarily have to involve activities or assume these necessarily have to involve activities or sports. Some fathers like to talk!sports. Some fathers like to talk!

Be prepared to be flexible about times and dates for Be prepared to be flexible about times and dates for meeting fathersmeeting fathers

Strategies and Points for Action (continued)Strategies and Points for Action (continued)

Strategies and Points for Action (continuedStrategies and Points for Action (continued))

Meet fathers without prejudgement, whatever their Meet fathers without prejudgement, whatever their history. history.

Consider the paternal relatives - often overlooked as a Consider the paternal relatives - often overlooked as a resourceresource

Family Group Conferences can be a very positive way of Family Group Conferences can be a very positive way of re-engaging the father and/ or the paternal family networkre-engaging the father and/ or the paternal family network

Encourage the development of further community Encourage the development of further community resources to support fathers with history pattern of resources to support fathers with history pattern of violence violence

(Fathers Matter, 2006, Family Rights Group and ongoing(Fathers Matter, 2006, Family Rights Group and ongoing

,,

Whenever possible help to make the Whenever possible help to make the father a positive resource for the child father a positive resource for the child rather than seen as ………rather than seen as ………

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