Dorothy Watson
Learn to Ask First Chatham-Kent Children’s Services Miriam Horne (Family Service Supervisor) Jennifer Almas (Family Service Worker) Dorothy Watson (Family Service Supervisor and Signs of Safety Lead)
LEARNING TO ASK FIRST DOROTHY WATSON, SUPERVISOR MIRIAM HORNE, SUPERVISOR JENNIFER ALMAS, FAMILY SERVICE WORKER
MISSION STATEMENT: Strengthening Children and Families for a Better Future. VALUES STATEMENT: Together with our community, CKCS CREATES: Collaboration Respect Equality Accountability Trust Empowerment of families Support
CHATHAM KENT
MORAVIANTOWN OF THE THAMES RESERVE
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN HISTORICAL SITE
Our Signs of Safety Journey •
We began our journey in September 2016
•
It has been a change in thinking and practice for both workers and supervisors
•
Previous leadership had a “my way or the highway kind of approach”
•
Too litigious
•
End of 2013 – New leadership – Signs of Safety was embraced
MY SUPERVISORY STYLE THEN •
APPREHEND FIRST – ASK QUESTIONS LATER
•
CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS ARE THE EXPERTS
NOW •
BRING FAMILY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS A PLAN FOR THE CHID(REN)
•
THE FAMILY ARE THE EXPERTS
•
THE SUPERVISOR MAKES THE FINAL DECISION
•
IT IS OK TO BE OPEN, HUMBLE AND CURIOUS
•
COURT ORDER NOT BEING FOLLOWED – NEED TO BECOME MORE INSTRUSIVE
•
DON’T ASSUME – ASK FIRST
Connie C=== 69
Billy - 29
Crystal – 34 - 34 Crystal
Jamie - ?
Brady 13
Serenit Serenityy-13 11
CAS FAMILY HISTORY •
CAS has been involved with this family on and off since 2004 due to mental health concerns with respect to the mother as well as her poor choice in partners.
•
The child was in foster care twice with the longest stay being from 2009-2013
•
The child was placed with the maternal grandmother under a supervision order in 2013 until 2014
•
The child was returned to her mother’s care in 2014 and the file was closed.
Family History Continued
•
The file reopened in 2015 due to the child missing 56 days of school and multiple days late and her behaviour was out of control. The child was brought into foster care as her mother could not manage her acting out behaviours. She was able to stabilze in care and was subsequently placed in her grandmother’s care in July 2016
WHY SIGNS OF SAFETY MAPPING STATUS REVIEW FOR COURT PERMANENCY DECISION NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR THE CHILD DISCUSS PERMANENCY OPTIONS File being transferred to new worker
MIRIAM’S JOURNEY
Contact information u
Dorothy Watson - Family Service Supervisor (Indigenous team) – [email protected]
u
Miriam Horne - Family Service Supervisor – [email protected]
u
Jennifer Almas – Family Service Worker – [email protected]
Learn to Ask First Chatham-Kent Children’s Services Miriam Horne (Family Service Supervisor) Jennifer Almas (Family Service Worker) Dorothy Watson (Family Service Supervisor and Signs of Safety Lead)
LEARNING TO ASK FIRST DOROTHY WATSON, SUPERVISOR MIRIAM HORNE, SUPERVISOR JENNIFER ALMAS, FAMILY SERVICE WORKER
MISSION STATEMENT: Strengthening Children and Families for a Better Future. VALUES STATEMENT: Together with our community, CKCS CREATES: Collaboration Respect Equality Accountability Trust Empowerment of families Support
CHATHAM KENT
MORAVIANTOWN OF THE THAMES RESERVE
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN HISTORICAL SITE
Our Signs of Safety Journey •
We began our journey in September 2016
•
It has been a change in thinking and practice for both workers and supervisors
•
Previous leadership had a “my way or the highway kind of approach”
•
Too litigious
•
End of 2013 – New leadership – Signs of Safety was embraced
MY SUPERVISORY STYLE THEN •
APPREHEND FIRST – ASK QUESTIONS LATER
•
CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS ARE THE EXPERTS
NOW •
BRING FAMILY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS A PLAN FOR THE CHID(REN)
•
THE FAMILY ARE THE EXPERTS
•
THE SUPERVISOR MAKES THE FINAL DECISION
•
IT IS OK TO BE OPEN, HUMBLE AND CURIOUS
•
COURT ORDER NOT BEING FOLLOWED – NEED TO BECOME MORE INSTRUSIVE
•
DON’T ASSUME – ASK FIRST
Connie C=== 69
Billy - 29
Crystal – 34 - 34 Crystal
Jamie - ?
Brady 13
Serenit Serenityy-13 11
CAS FAMILY HISTORY •
CAS has been involved with this family on and off since 2004 due to mental health concerns with respect to the mother as well as her poor choice in partners.
•
The child was in foster care twice with the longest stay being from 2009-2013
•
The child was placed with the maternal grandmother under a supervision order in 2013 until 2014
•
The child was returned to her mother’s care in 2014 and the file was closed.
Family History Continued
•
The file reopened in 2015 due to the child missing 56 days of school and multiple days late and her behaviour was out of control. The child was brought into foster care as her mother could not manage her acting out behaviours. She was able to stabilze in care and was subsequently placed in her grandmother’s care in July 2016
WHY SIGNS OF SAFETY MAPPING STATUS REVIEW FOR COURT PERMANENCY DECISION NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR THE CHILD DISCUSS PERMANENCY OPTIONS File being transferred to new worker
MIRIAM’S JOURNEY
Contact information u
Dorothy Watson - Family Service Supervisor (Indigenous team) – [email protected]
u
Miriam Horne - Family Service Supervisor – [email protected]
u
Jennifer Almas – Family Service Worker – [email protected]
Learn to Ask First Chatham-Kent Children’s Services Miriam Horne (Family Service Supervisor) Jennifer Almas (Family Service Worker) Dorothy Watson (Family Service Supervisor and Signs of Safety Lead)
