possible trajectory kellys case
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case Written by Katrina Etherington and Damian Griffiths, June 2015
Katrina’s Possible Danger Statements Kelly and her manager from Child Protection Services (CPS) really want to find a way to work with Mum and help her be the best Mum she can be. Kelly and her manager are worried that when Mum gets out of prison; that she will go back to living a chaotic day-‐to-‐day life which involves getting and using heroin, cocaine and alcohol; that she won’t work with anyone or allow family and friends to support and help and (CHILD) (4) will miss going to pre-‐school and mixing with children her own age, be woken up at one in the morning to have a bath and go to the pharmacy, be in pain and have trouble going to the toilet because she is constipated and be behind in her speech. Kelly and her manager (Sandra) are also worried that whether she is with (CHILD)’s dad or someone else that Mum will get caught up again in a relationship that is violent and (CHILD) (4) will hear and see screaming and hitting and end up in a dangerous situation like the time Mum said that she was driving (CHILD)’s dad’s car when she had been using heroin and cocaine to get away from (CHILD)’s dad being violent. They are worried that (CHILD) could get in the middle of the fighting to try and protect her mum and get accidently hurt. Possible Safety Goals Kelly and her manager (Sandra) want to work with Mum so that CPS can be out of Mum’s life and for this to happen Mum needs to sit down with Kelly and some support people and work out a plan that can be put into place and show Kelly and her manager that: • Mum will always make sure that (CHILD) is cared for by an adult who is sober/free from alcohol and other drug use and if she has a partner to sit down and make an honest detailed plan about what they will do when they get angry or frustrated that will make sure (CHILD) is not around screaming, shouting and if Mum and partner get out of control. • (CHILD) is getting good sleep, going to the toilet regularly and more easily and getting help to talk like four year olds do. The plan needs to be in place and working for three months for Kelly and her manager to be confident that (CHILD) can be on a Child in Need Plan and then another three months to be confident the case can be closed. Possible Safety Scales On a scale of 0 – 10, where 10 is that Mum and partner have a detailed plan about what they will do when they are angry or frustrated to make sure (CHILD) is not around the fighting and their disagreements don’t get out of control, and 0 is there is no plan or agreement about how to fight in fairer ways and the fighting is at its worst, so bad that (CHILD) is really scared and on edge and either Mum or partner is likely to end up really seriously hurt as might (CHILD) if she got in the middle of it. On a scale of 0 – 10 where 10 is Mum has key people who can look after (CHILD) when Mum wants to get and use alcohol and/or other drugs and 0 is things are the same as they have been and Mum is bathing (CHILD) at one in the morning and taking her to the pharmacy or out and about to score, where are you? On a scale of 0 – 10 where Mum is making sure that she or someone on her support network are making sure that (CHILD) is in a good routine, getting good sleep and help to be able to go to the toilet regularly and improve in her speech and 0 is nothing has changed from before Mum went to
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
prison and Mum is bathing (CHILD) at one in the morning and taking her to the pharmacy or out and about to score; she’s in pain with constipation and struggling with her speech to the point that people find it hard to understand her, where are you? Tell me about a time when you wanted to take drugs and made sure someone safe and trusted was caring for (CHILD). Damian’s Possible Danger Statements, Safety Goals and Scaling Questions Kelly and her manager Sandra are impressed that Mum and her family have been able to pull together at different times to make sure (CHILD) is well looked after and safe. DS 1 Kelly and Sandra are worried that at times Mum has been caring for (CHILD) when she has been using heroin and cocaine, like when she drove the car when she was trying to get away from her partner. And although she was doing this to get away from an abusive relationship, if this happened again they could have a crash and get seriously injured. SG 1 Kelly and Sandra will get off Mum’s back about this worry when they can see a plan is in place which shows that safe care arrangements for (CHILD) are always in place when Mum wants to use drugs. Scaling Q 1 10 = No matter how much Mum wants to get wasted, Mum never ever does until and unless Mum has made sure that (CHILD) is safe and well looked after by someone safe. 0 = Mum try to keep (CHILD) safe but sometimes people let me down, and anyway Mum can take a bit of stuff and still look after (CHILD) OK DS 2 Kelly and Sandra are worried that Mum wants to fight with them more than she wants to show them she is a good mum who always makes safe arrangements for (CHILD). They are worried this will end up getting heavy because Kelly and Sandra have to be sure (CHILD) is safe – it’s their job and Mum, (CHILD) and the rest of the family will end up with more hassle than they need to have. SG 2 Kelly and Sandra will be able to see Mum is a good mum when she shows them she is, by letting them talk to family members and other people supporting the family. Scaling Q 2 10 = I hate the welfare but I know that until I show them that I am making safe arrangements for (CHILD) they won’t go away, and although a bit of me wants to fight with them – the bastards – I’m gonna do what’s best for (CHILD) and play ball. 0 = bring on the fight! Whaddaya going to do? I’ve already been in prison and I’m not scared of you or going back there so do your fucking worst and stick your safety plan up your arse! DS3 Although it doesn’t look like it will happen any time soon, Kelly and Sandra are worried that in the future Mum might take off with (CHILD) on her own – like she did before going around with (CHILD)’s father -‐ and move far away. This might mean that there is nobody tried and trusted to look after (CHILD) when Mum wants to get wasted and so she might have an accident because Mum is too out of it to supervise her properly Scaling Questions
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
10 = I know that so long as I am taking heroin and cocaine I won’t be able to care for (CHILD) safely and well on my own, so if I decide I want to move away from my family I‘ll take time and plan it with them so that I’ve got people who can support me to keep (CHILD) always looked after safe and well. 0 = I’ll move when I want to and I’ll take (CHILD) with me – she’s my daughter – it’ll be OK, I’ll work it out as we go along. 10 = I find it really hard to listen to my mum and others when I might not be doing what I should for (CHILD) but I can bite my tongue and listen because that’s what’s best for (CHILD). 0 = I say who looks after (CHILD); I say where she goes and when; I say whether she gets in the car with me; I say when she goes out and comes in – it’s nobody else’s business. Exceptions Questions – Questions to elicit Strengths/Safety Has there ever been a time when you’ve been able to ask someone for help/support? How did they help? What did they do? What difference did it make? What would (CHILD) say she loves most about you as her mum? What would your mum say impresses her most about how you care for (Child)? What do you think is the best thing about how you look after (Child)? When have you wanted to use drugs and left (Child) with someone safe and sober? When have Mum and partner been able to resolve arguments and fights in a fair way without yelling, hitting and threats? How often have they been able to do this? How did they do this? How else? How else? (If don’t know) Is this a question you would like to ask them? When have Mum and partner been able to stop themselves using drugs like heroin and cocaine? How often have they been able to do this? How did they do this? How else? How else? (If don’t know) Is this a question you would like to ask them? What would Mum say are all the reasons she shouldn’t be using drugs and looking after their (CHILD)? Has there been a time when Mum made sure a sober/safe adult was looking after (CHILD) when she wanted to use drugs? Has there been a time when Mum made sure a sober/safe adult was looking after (CHILD) when they wanted to use drugs? Has there been a time when Mum has called for help to stop the fighting and keep (CHILD) safe? Are there any other examples of Mum keeping (CHILD) safe/taking care of her? Tell me about a time when you wanted to take drugs and made sure someone safe and trusted was caring for (CHILD) Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone in authority – a prison officer, for example or a drugs worker – and you did it even though you didn’t want to. What did you do to make that happen? What did they do that made that a bit easier? What would your mum say about how you can manage that sort of thing at times, even though she knows you’d rather tell them to fuck off? Tell me about a time when your mum gave you a bit of advice which seemed like she was correcting you, and although you got a bit narked, you were able to follow through on the advice because you could see it was right?
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Case Trajectory Before meeting with Mum. Create clear compassionate danger statements, safety goals with scaling questions for each pair – Those provided by Damian and Katrina as above (and those other training participants hopefully gave you) may prove useful. Develop detailed questions to elicit meaningful existing strengths and existing safety – (again hopefully the ones we developed in training will help you). Possible Scaling Question between Kelly and manager (Sandra) – On a scale of 0 – 10 where 10 is Mum doesn’t want to engage/work with us/play we walk away because the situation for (CHILD) is ‘good enough’ and 0 is Mum won’t work with us we’ll hold a CP conference and consider whether we need to consider PLO. Other question to consider: If Mum weren’t in prison would we remove? Work out agency bottom lines – what are the have to do’s to prevent (CHILD) from entering care i.e. Having a safety/support network; having a Words and Pictures explanation; and professionals will ask the hard questions and parents and network think through, come up with and demonstrate the ‘rules’ that show everyone the (CHILD) will be safe in the future (Consult with Legal?) Kelly (and Sandra) to think through what to say/ask Mum that will possibly get her to the point where she will agree to meet and hear what Kelly and her manager Sandra have to say i.e. the DS, SG, SQ – trajectory. What would be involved in Safety Planning etc. Possibly use Damian’s ‘Power Scaling Question’. Date Steps/Tasks Meetings Additional Comments Weeks 1-‐2 If Mum is willing to move Meeting with Mum to NB: May be able to look at forward: present DS, SG and ask the first two points in one questions to elicit meeting. Depend on how Meeting with Mum. strengths and safety. Get much Mum is willing to hear Explain the trajectory and safety to scaling if possible. in that first meeting. Possibly planning process to Mum. Ask her This will likely turn into a shared DS and SG and let her to think it through and gain her mapping* as hopefully know that what you want to commitment to the process. Mum will have things to do is get her input into those add to the and work out with her how strengths/safety and will to get from DS to SG and help develop the safety then offer to meet again in a goal. day or so to cover the trajectory. If she’s up for it Meeting to go through you might be able to cover trajectory with Mum. DS, SG, SQ and trajectory in one meeting. Start asking questions about building Be great if you could get all support/safety network. this done with her whilst she’s in prison. Weeks 2-‐ 3 Mum find support people for Meeting to go over Again, would be good if this safety network and they are mapping and trajectory could get started whilst Mum informed of child protection with Mum and is in prison. Helpful to get as concerns and interim safety safety/support network. much done with her and the guidelines. Kelly to think through network as you can before
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
the questions to ask Mum about who she can draw on for support (maybe use the handout). **Work with (CHILD).
Weeks 3-‐6
Week 4
5
Safety/support network to scale. Three Houses with (CHILD).
she is released and then she and they can put it all into action from the time she is released. Building the Network Think through the questions in the finding networks document and draft some clearly focused questions to Mum about involving support people. Write every question you can think to delve into the challenge with the Mum and get her to think through with you through that issue. Show Mum some examples of Three Houses and let her know you will go over (CHILD’s) Three Houses with her afterwards. Draft and refine the Words and Meeting with Mum and I would be looking to include Pictures explanation for (CHILD). possibly a key network (CHILD’s) Dad in the See suggestion for first draft person or two to go over development of the W&P. below. the W&P draft and Important to capture his develop a merged views. If not and he comes Words and Pictures explanation version. back on the scene he could presented to (CHILD) in front of end up telling (CHILD) all the network. Developing the first draft sorts of things that are with Mum and Dad contrary to the W&P If Mum is out of prison – ask about could take some time. explanation that will confuse strengths/safety that has been The struggles will (CHILD). If can’t get buy-‐in occurring since last meeting. Any provide opportunities from Dad then someone worries? Maybe rescale? Could for questions and from Dad’s family. ask network people to rescale. chances to honour Mum and Dad for working this through for (CHILD) despite how hard they might be finding the process. Deepen the family’s vision of the ***Miracle Question Miracle Question with Safety Goal with the family whole family Bring whole family in and spend a whole session building a miracle question conversation around the question: Suppose tonight you go to bed and overnight a miracle happens, you wake up tomorrow morning and everything is just the way
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Week 4 – 6
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Develop Safety Plan – adult version first. Increasing depth in detail of safety guidelines toward final safety plan.
you want it in your family what would be happening . . . Explore this in exhaustive detail from everyone’s perspective with lots of relationship questions and write down all the answers to give back to family. Develop Adult version of Stressors/Triggers safety plan and start Asking questions of the Mum implementing – to find out what their rehearse, review, refine. stressors and triggers are is a bottom line in safety Implement Safety planning. It is important to Journal. The information ask questions to help them recorded in this is read think their way into and out and discussed in through what factors trigger meetings where the their drug use and fighting. safety plan is reviewed. Flags It is crucial that the safety network are aware of behaviour that can ‘flag’ to them that Mum (and possibly dad or new partner) might be engaging in the problem behaviour that could lead to harm for ((CHILD)). By knowing what specific behaviours indicate Mum’s problem has been triggered, they can know what to look out for when fulfilling their role in working to keep the children safe. Who will do what Be sure to make a note of who is going to do what to achieve safety. It can be helpful to know who will do what and who else will do a task if that person is not able to for some reason. For e.g. Mum’s neighbour Norah will come to the house each morning at 7am to help make sure Mum is up and getting ((child)) ready for nursery school. If Norah is not able to do this she will call Grandma Peggy who will come instead. Family Safety Journal Create a family safety journal that everyone can fill in
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
[(Child) can do drawings in there] focusing first on best times/what most enjoyed when family together on contact. Then everyone can write anything they are worried about. Family Safety Objects Get (CHILD)) to choose a family safety object for the home and each of the older ones to have their own small safety object and identify who outside of the home they chose to give this to (neighbour, relative, teacher) and how e.g., put in neighbour’s letter box, on teacher’s desk etc. It's the adult’s responsibility to then act to find out what (CHILD) is worried about and get it sorted out. Part of the adult safety planning work is to decide what will be done if/when (CHILD) gives her safety object to the person.
Weeks 6 – 12+
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Developing the Final Safety Plan and Monitoring
Final safety plan created and safety plan prepared for and presented to (CHILD) in age-‐ appropriate language Review Meetings with family and network each week to start with and then fortnightly. May need to call a meeting sooner if challenges crop up. Implementation of the Safety Plan monitored by statutory agency usually for a period of 3 to 6 months.
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Review Successes In addition to exploring any issues that may have been experienced since the last meeting, spend considerable effort in exploring success. Ask as many questions as you can to elicit information about what has been working well and how the safety planning, or steps towards, is working. Review the Safety Scale Ask each participant to position themselves on the safety scale at each meeting, exploring reasons for moving lower or higher to the rating provided previously.
Rehearse, Review and Refine It is essential to the success of the family’s rigorous safety planning that the rules developed in the safety plan are rehearsed, reviewed and refined. Allow times in the safety planning review meeting to discuss and plan for practicing the plan, reviewing the rules and refining the details.
Honour the family for their success.
Celebratory meeting Case closure
*Mapping with Mum Do a mapping with Mum, with someone else she choses possibly together with Grandma Peggy. Focusing on: • Worries, What was the worst of being in the family for you? And for (CHILD)? • What was working, What were the best times, what are the best times with (CHILD)’s) dad or other partner if relevant? • What needs to happen, What do you want to see and know is in place, what do the rules need to be for you to be confident nothing like what happened before can happen again, (CHILD) and you will feel confident and that you can (achieve what ever the goal is). • Set up a scale along the lines of: On scale of 0 to 10 where 10 is whether Mum use or not (CHILD) knows and Mum knows the rules are in place that the kids will not be around if the parents are using and 0 is Mum probably will use heroin and cocaine again and who knows what’s going to happen and (CHILD) is scared she is going to be around hearing Mum and maybe dad lose it, acting crazy, screaming, yelling and hitting and it feels like its only a matter of time before things need to escalate to a CP plan, where does she rate this? (Refine this safety scaling question so it really fits the family) **WORK WITH (CHILD) Working with (CHILD) should be at the centre of this work throughout. Three Houses with (CHILD) Undertake Three Houses process with (CHILD). Possibly use large flip chart paper one for each house for (CHILD) to work on or use 3 sheets of paper. Get (CHILD’s) exact words and drawings. Focus first on house of good things – her favourite things to do in her family; what she most likes about Mum, Dad, Grandma and what she loves most. Move then on to House of Dreams – asking if life was the way they wanted it at home what would it be like – get lots of detail – what would (CHILD) be doing, what would be happening, what would be different about mum, about dad, who would be coming over? What would family be doing? How would they be dealing with problems in the dream house? What will people do if they get angry? etc. (Working in the House of dreams will probably naturally lead to House of worries as in house of dreams she may say things like mum and dad wouldn’t use drugs or drink, wouldn’t go crazy etc. so you can invite her to write mum sad and drinking as something to put in the house of worries.)
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Finally House of Worries – things don’t like. What have been the worst times? After finished house of worries ask What would be the rules in your dream house so you all know the things you are worried won’t happen again? Consider asking (CHILD) to read out the words she has used and record these words to play for mum (and dad/new partner if on the scene) and network. Make sure to get the (CHILD’s) permission to take this work to mum and dad and support people – this will probably have big impact on them. Certainly possible to use the Safety House tool (created by Sonja Parker) as an alternative or in conjunction with the three houses work – but given time probably one or the other. We would probably favour the three houses because it has a clearer focus on the good things, which will mean a lot for parents when taken back to them. Important to get out the children’s rules in the house of dreams if don’t use the Safety House
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Katrina’s Possible Danger Statements Kelly and her manager from Child Protection Services (CPS) really want to find a way to work with Mum and help her be the best Mum she can be. Kelly and her manager are worried that when Mum gets out of prison; that she will go back to living a chaotic day-‐to-‐day life which involves getting and using heroin, cocaine and alcohol; that she won’t work with anyone or allow family and friends to support and help and (CHILD) (4) will miss going to pre-‐school and mixing with children her own age, be woken up at one in the morning to have a bath and go to the pharmacy, be in pain and have trouble going to the toilet because she is constipated and be behind in her speech. Kelly and her manager (Sandra) are also worried that whether she is with (CHILD)’s dad or someone else that Mum will get caught up again in a relationship that is violent and (CHILD) (4) will hear and see screaming and hitting and end up in a dangerous situation like the time Mum said that she was driving (CHILD)’s dad’s car when she had been using heroin and cocaine to get away from (CHILD)’s dad being violent. They are worried that (CHILD) could get in the middle of the fighting to try and protect her mum and get accidently hurt. Possible Safety Goals Kelly and her manager (Sandra) want to work with Mum so that CPS can be out of Mum’s life and for this to happen Mum needs to sit down with Kelly and some support people and work out a plan that can be put into place and show Kelly and her manager that: • Mum will always make sure that (CHILD) is cared for by an adult who is sober/free from alcohol and other drug use and if she has a partner to sit down and make an honest detailed plan about what they will do when they get angry or frustrated that will make sure (CHILD) is not around screaming, shouting and if Mum and partner get out of control. • (CHILD) is getting good sleep, going to the toilet regularly and more easily and getting help to talk like four year olds do. The plan needs to be in place and working for three months for Kelly and her manager to be confident that (CHILD) can be on a Child in Need Plan and then another three months to be confident the case can be closed. Possible Safety Scales On a scale of 0 – 10, where 10 is that Mum and partner have a detailed plan about what they will do when they are angry or frustrated to make sure (CHILD) is not around the fighting and their disagreements don’t get out of control, and 0 is there is no plan or agreement about how to fight in fairer ways and the fighting is at its worst, so bad that (CHILD) is really scared and on edge and either Mum or partner is likely to end up really seriously hurt as might (CHILD) if she got in the middle of it. On a scale of 0 – 10 where 10 is Mum has key people who can look after (CHILD) when Mum wants to get and use alcohol and/or other drugs and 0 is things are the same as they have been and Mum is bathing (CHILD) at one in the morning and taking her to the pharmacy or out and about to score, where are you? On a scale of 0 – 10 where Mum is making sure that she or someone on her support network are making sure that (CHILD) is in a good routine, getting good sleep and help to be able to go to the toilet regularly and improve in her speech and 0 is nothing has changed from before Mum went to
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
prison and Mum is bathing (CHILD) at one in the morning and taking her to the pharmacy or out and about to score; she’s in pain with constipation and struggling with her speech to the point that people find it hard to understand her, where are you? Tell me about a time when you wanted to take drugs and made sure someone safe and trusted was caring for (CHILD). Damian’s Possible Danger Statements, Safety Goals and Scaling Questions Kelly and her manager Sandra are impressed that Mum and her family have been able to pull together at different times to make sure (CHILD) is well looked after and safe. DS 1 Kelly and Sandra are worried that at times Mum has been caring for (CHILD) when she has been using heroin and cocaine, like when she drove the car when she was trying to get away from her partner. And although she was doing this to get away from an abusive relationship, if this happened again they could have a crash and get seriously injured. SG 1 Kelly and Sandra will get off Mum’s back about this worry when they can see a plan is in place which shows that safe care arrangements for (CHILD) are always in place when Mum wants to use drugs. Scaling Q 1 10 = No matter how much Mum wants to get wasted, Mum never ever does until and unless Mum has made sure that (CHILD) is safe and well looked after by someone safe. 0 = Mum try to keep (CHILD) safe but sometimes people let me down, and anyway Mum can take a bit of stuff and still look after (CHILD) OK DS 2 Kelly and Sandra are worried that Mum wants to fight with them more than she wants to show them she is a good mum who always makes safe arrangements for (CHILD). They are worried this will end up getting heavy because Kelly and Sandra have to be sure (CHILD) is safe – it’s their job and Mum, (CHILD) and the rest of the family will end up with more hassle than they need to have. SG 2 Kelly and Sandra will be able to see Mum is a good mum when she shows them she is, by letting them talk to family members and other people supporting the family. Scaling Q 2 10 = I hate the welfare but I know that until I show them that I am making safe arrangements for (CHILD) they won’t go away, and although a bit of me wants to fight with them – the bastards – I’m gonna do what’s best for (CHILD) and play ball. 0 = bring on the fight! Whaddaya going to do? I’ve already been in prison and I’m not scared of you or going back there so do your fucking worst and stick your safety plan up your arse! DS3 Although it doesn’t look like it will happen any time soon, Kelly and Sandra are worried that in the future Mum might take off with (CHILD) on her own – like she did before going around with (CHILD)’s father -‐ and move far away. This might mean that there is nobody tried and trusted to look after (CHILD) when Mum wants to get wasted and so she might have an accident because Mum is too out of it to supervise her properly Scaling Questions
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
10 = I know that so long as I am taking heroin and cocaine I won’t be able to care for (CHILD) safely and well on my own, so if I decide I want to move away from my family I‘ll take time and plan it with them so that I’ve got people who can support me to keep (CHILD) always looked after safe and well. 0 = I’ll move when I want to and I’ll take (CHILD) with me – she’s my daughter – it’ll be OK, I’ll work it out as we go along. 10 = I find it really hard to listen to my mum and others when I might not be doing what I should for (CHILD) but I can bite my tongue and listen because that’s what’s best for (CHILD). 0 = I say who looks after (CHILD); I say where she goes and when; I say whether she gets in the car with me; I say when she goes out and comes in – it’s nobody else’s business. Exceptions Questions – Questions to elicit Strengths/Safety Has there ever been a time when you’ve been able to ask someone for help/support? How did they help? What did they do? What difference did it make? What would (CHILD) say she loves most about you as her mum? What would your mum say impresses her most about how you care for (Child)? What do you think is the best thing about how you look after (Child)? When have you wanted to use drugs and left (Child) with someone safe and sober? When have Mum and partner been able to resolve arguments and fights in a fair way without yelling, hitting and threats? How often have they been able to do this? How did they do this? How else? How else? (If don’t know) Is this a question you would like to ask them? When have Mum and partner been able to stop themselves using drugs like heroin and cocaine? How often have they been able to do this? How did they do this? How else? How else? (If don’t know) Is this a question you would like to ask them? What would Mum say are all the reasons she shouldn’t be using drugs and looking after their (CHILD)? Has there been a time when Mum made sure a sober/safe adult was looking after (CHILD) when she wanted to use drugs? Has there been a time when Mum made sure a sober/safe adult was looking after (CHILD) when they wanted to use drugs? Has there been a time when Mum has called for help to stop the fighting and keep (CHILD) safe? Are there any other examples of Mum keeping (CHILD) safe/taking care of her? Tell me about a time when you wanted to take drugs and made sure someone safe and trusted was caring for (CHILD) Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone in authority – a prison officer, for example or a drugs worker – and you did it even though you didn’t want to. What did you do to make that happen? What did they do that made that a bit easier? What would your mum say about how you can manage that sort of thing at times, even though she knows you’d rather tell them to fuck off? Tell me about a time when your mum gave you a bit of advice which seemed like she was correcting you, and although you got a bit narked, you were able to follow through on the advice because you could see it was right?
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Case Trajectory Before meeting with Mum. Create clear compassionate danger statements, safety goals with scaling questions for each pair – Those provided by Damian and Katrina as above (and those other training participants hopefully gave you) may prove useful. Develop detailed questions to elicit meaningful existing strengths and existing safety – (again hopefully the ones we developed in training will help you). Possible Scaling Question between Kelly and manager (Sandra) – On a scale of 0 – 10 where 10 is Mum doesn’t want to engage/work with us/play we walk away because the situation for (CHILD) is ‘good enough’ and 0 is Mum won’t work with us we’ll hold a CP conference and consider whether we need to consider PLO. Other question to consider: If Mum weren’t in prison would we remove? Work out agency bottom lines – what are the have to do’s to prevent (CHILD) from entering care i.e. Having a safety/support network; having a Words and Pictures explanation; and professionals will ask the hard questions and parents and network think through, come up with and demonstrate the ‘rules’ that show everyone the (CHILD) will be safe in the future (Consult with Legal?) Kelly (and Sandra) to think through what to say/ask Mum that will possibly get her to the point where she will agree to meet and hear what Kelly and her manager Sandra have to say i.e. the DS, SG, SQ – trajectory. What would be involved in Safety Planning etc. Possibly use Damian’s ‘Power Scaling Question’. Date Steps/Tasks Meetings Additional Comments Weeks 1-‐2 If Mum is willing to move Meeting with Mum to NB: May be able to look at forward: present DS, SG and ask the first two points in one questions to elicit meeting. Depend on how Meeting with Mum. strengths and safety. Get much Mum is willing to hear Explain the trajectory and safety to scaling if possible. in that first meeting. Possibly planning process to Mum. Ask her This will likely turn into a shared DS and SG and let her to think it through and gain her mapping* as hopefully know that what you want to commitment to the process. Mum will have things to do is get her input into those add to the and work out with her how strengths/safety and will to get from DS to SG and help develop the safety then offer to meet again in a goal. day or so to cover the trajectory. If she’s up for it Meeting to go through you might be able to cover trajectory with Mum. DS, SG, SQ and trajectory in one meeting. Start asking questions about building Be great if you could get all support/safety network. this done with her whilst she’s in prison. Weeks 2-‐ 3 Mum find support people for Meeting to go over Again, would be good if this safety network and they are mapping and trajectory could get started whilst Mum informed of child protection with Mum and is in prison. Helpful to get as concerns and interim safety safety/support network. much done with her and the guidelines. Kelly to think through network as you can before
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
the questions to ask Mum about who she can draw on for support (maybe use the handout). **Work with (CHILD).
Weeks 3-‐6
Week 4
5
Safety/support network to scale. Three Houses with (CHILD).
she is released and then she and they can put it all into action from the time she is released. Building the Network Think through the questions in the finding networks document and draft some clearly focused questions to Mum about involving support people. Write every question you can think to delve into the challenge with the Mum and get her to think through with you through that issue. Show Mum some examples of Three Houses and let her know you will go over (CHILD’s) Three Houses with her afterwards. Draft and refine the Words and Meeting with Mum and I would be looking to include Pictures explanation for (CHILD). possibly a key network (CHILD’s) Dad in the See suggestion for first draft person or two to go over development of the W&P. below. the W&P draft and Important to capture his develop a merged views. If not and he comes Words and Pictures explanation version. back on the scene he could presented to (CHILD) in front of end up telling (CHILD) all the network. Developing the first draft sorts of things that are with Mum and Dad contrary to the W&P If Mum is out of prison – ask about could take some time. explanation that will confuse strengths/safety that has been The struggles will (CHILD). If can’t get buy-‐in occurring since last meeting. Any provide opportunities from Dad then someone worries? Maybe rescale? Could for questions and from Dad’s family. ask network people to rescale. chances to honour Mum and Dad for working this through for (CHILD) despite how hard they might be finding the process. Deepen the family’s vision of the ***Miracle Question Miracle Question with Safety Goal with the family whole family Bring whole family in and spend a whole session building a miracle question conversation around the question: Suppose tonight you go to bed and overnight a miracle happens, you wake up tomorrow morning and everything is just the way
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Week 4 – 6
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Develop Safety Plan – adult version first. Increasing depth in detail of safety guidelines toward final safety plan.
you want it in your family what would be happening . . . Explore this in exhaustive detail from everyone’s perspective with lots of relationship questions and write down all the answers to give back to family. Develop Adult version of Stressors/Triggers safety plan and start Asking questions of the Mum implementing – to find out what their rehearse, review, refine. stressors and triggers are is a bottom line in safety Implement Safety planning. It is important to Journal. The information ask questions to help them recorded in this is read think their way into and out and discussed in through what factors trigger meetings where the their drug use and fighting. safety plan is reviewed. Flags It is crucial that the safety network are aware of behaviour that can ‘flag’ to them that Mum (and possibly dad or new partner) might be engaging in the problem behaviour that could lead to harm for ((CHILD)). By knowing what specific behaviours indicate Mum’s problem has been triggered, they can know what to look out for when fulfilling their role in working to keep the children safe. Who will do what Be sure to make a note of who is going to do what to achieve safety. It can be helpful to know who will do what and who else will do a task if that person is not able to for some reason. For e.g. Mum’s neighbour Norah will come to the house each morning at 7am to help make sure Mum is up and getting ((child)) ready for nursery school. If Norah is not able to do this she will call Grandma Peggy who will come instead. Family Safety Journal Create a family safety journal that everyone can fill in
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
[(Child) can do drawings in there] focusing first on best times/what most enjoyed when family together on contact. Then everyone can write anything they are worried about. Family Safety Objects Get (CHILD)) to choose a family safety object for the home and each of the older ones to have their own small safety object and identify who outside of the home they chose to give this to (neighbour, relative, teacher) and how e.g., put in neighbour’s letter box, on teacher’s desk etc. It's the adult’s responsibility to then act to find out what (CHILD) is worried about and get it sorted out. Part of the adult safety planning work is to decide what will be done if/when (CHILD) gives her safety object to the person.
Weeks 6 – 12+
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Developing the Final Safety Plan and Monitoring
Final safety plan created and safety plan prepared for and presented to (CHILD) in age-‐ appropriate language Review Meetings with family and network each week to start with and then fortnightly. May need to call a meeting sooner if challenges crop up. Implementation of the Safety Plan monitored by statutory agency usually for a period of 3 to 6 months.
Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Review Successes In addition to exploring any issues that may have been experienced since the last meeting, spend considerable effort in exploring success. Ask as many questions as you can to elicit information about what has been working well and how the safety planning, or steps towards, is working. Review the Safety Scale Ask each participant to position themselves on the safety scale at each meeting, exploring reasons for moving lower or higher to the rating provided previously.
Rehearse, Review and Refine It is essential to the success of the family’s rigorous safety planning that the rules developed in the safety plan are rehearsed, reviewed and refined. Allow times in the safety planning review meeting to discuss and plan for practicing the plan, reviewing the rules and refining the details.
Honour the family for their success.
Celebratory meeting Case closure
*Mapping with Mum Do a mapping with Mum, with someone else she choses possibly together with Grandma Peggy. Focusing on: • Worries, What was the worst of being in the family for you? And for (CHILD)? • What was working, What were the best times, what are the best times with (CHILD)’s) dad or other partner if relevant? • What needs to happen, What do you want to see and know is in place, what do the rules need to be for you to be confident nothing like what happened before can happen again, (CHILD) and you will feel confident and that you can (achieve what ever the goal is). • Set up a scale along the lines of: On scale of 0 to 10 where 10 is whether Mum use or not (CHILD) knows and Mum knows the rules are in place that the kids will not be around if the parents are using and 0 is Mum probably will use heroin and cocaine again and who knows what’s going to happen and (CHILD) is scared she is going to be around hearing Mum and maybe dad lose it, acting crazy, screaming, yelling and hitting and it feels like its only a matter of time before things need to escalate to a CP plan, where does she rate this? (Refine this safety scaling question so it really fits the family) **WORK WITH (CHILD) Working with (CHILD) should be at the centre of this work throughout. Three Houses with (CHILD) Undertake Three Houses process with (CHILD). Possibly use large flip chart paper one for each house for (CHILD) to work on or use 3 sheets of paper. Get (CHILD’s) exact words and drawings. Focus first on house of good things – her favourite things to do in her family; what she most likes about Mum, Dad, Grandma and what she loves most. Move then on to House of Dreams – asking if life was the way they wanted it at home what would it be like – get lots of detail – what would (CHILD) be doing, what would be happening, what would be different about mum, about dad, who would be coming over? What would family be doing? How would they be dealing with problems in the dream house? What will people do if they get angry? etc. (Working in the House of dreams will probably naturally lead to House of worries as in house of dreams she may say things like mum and dad wouldn’t use drugs or drink, wouldn’t go crazy etc. so you can invite her to write mum sad and drinking as something to put in the house of worries.)
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
Finally House of Worries – things don’t like. What have been the worst times? After finished house of worries ask What would be the rules in your dream house so you all know the things you are worried won’t happen again? Consider asking (CHILD) to read out the words she has used and record these words to play for mum (and dad/new partner if on the scene) and network. Make sure to get the (CHILD’s) permission to take this work to mum and dad and support people – this will probably have big impact on them. Certainly possible to use the Safety House tool (created by Sonja Parker) as an alternative or in conjunction with the three houses work – but given time probably one or the other. We would probably favour the three houses because it has a clearer focus on the good things, which will mean a lot for parents when taken back to them. Important to get out the children’s rules in the house of dreams if don’t use the Safety House
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Possible Case Trajectory for Kelly’s Case ©2015 Resolutions Consultancy
