Case-management where indicated Suitable client/case review and closure processes Elements which add value include: Adult Attachment and Care Giver Interviews in Assessment, building insight for change Access to legal practitioners to help interpret orders and liaise with courts Use of Child-Inclusive Practice to build parent capacity to understand child/ren’s experiences and focus on their best interests Involving children directly in therapeutic processes Provision of longer-term individual adult counselling Providing opportunities for parties to negotiate issues (i.e. hybrid FDR intervention and legally-assisted FDR) and develop clear lists of issues to be addressed prior to conducting FDR mediation Effective referral pathways for Post Orders support services require substantial collaboration with court staff to develop two-way protocols, including: Referral of families on Interim Orders at risk of ongoing conflict and court returns Orders which require attendance for assessment and compliance with recommendations Orders which require feedback from services about attendance and recommendations arising from feedback Communication channels to address ambiguous or contradictory orders with the courts Broader opportunities to enhance practitioner-client relationships and service processes include: Increased flexibility to reduce barriers to participation Being responsive as far as is practicable Transparency about actions taken in relation to concerns, as far as possible in terms of confidentiality and safety Clear information at the start of service regarding service components available Improvements for Outcomes evaluation and continual improvement include: Brief client surveys measuring key client outcome domains Staff data collection regarding client characteristics, process outcomes and changes to safety issues Survey time-points to be prior to commencement, midway through and towards the end. Suitable outcomes for measurement include: Inter-parental relationship functioning (including communication and conflict) Understanding of orders and the system Cooperative co-parenting Adult and child wellbeing Satisfaction with parenting arrangements/orders Satisfaction with service Process outcomes in terms of service components undertaken Data capture should also include client/case characteristics and dynamics
CitM 2.6f I ask our child/ren to carry messages to the OP 3.35 0.98 19.93 33.00 0.00 CitM 2.7g The OP asks our child/ren to carry messages to me 0.81 3.26 1.41 31.00 0.17 CitM 2.8h The OP asks our child/ren questions (about me/my family) that my child wishes they wouldn't ask? -1.56 2.27 -3.89 31.00 0.00 CitM 2.9i I ask our child/ren questions (about the OP/family) that my child wishes I wouldn't ask? 2.41 1.94 7.25 33.00 0.00 Caught in the Middle subscale (2.3c – 2.9h) Total -2.30 8.04 33.00 0.01 2.10a I have a good understanding of the emotional and developmental needs of our children -0.25 1.05 -1.35 31.00 0.19 2.11b The OP has a good understanding of the emotional and developmental needs of our children -0.75 1.37 -3.10 31.00 0.00 2.12c I am able to be flexible to meet the child/ren's wishes or needs -0.18 0.72 -1.44 33.00 0.16 2.13d The OP is able to be flexible to meet the child/ren's -0.50 1.08 -2.63 31.00 0.01
7.3c My child/ren has seen or heard the other parent threaten me with violence 3.15 1.91 8.41 25.00 0.00 7.4d My has seen or heard the other parent try to assault me 3.67 1.27 15.83 29.00 0.00 7.5e If there are safety concerns for me or my children, then the current arrangement/agreement takes into account those adequately -.684 1.67 -1.78 18 .091 7.6f If there are safety concerns for me or my children, I have the resources and skills to manage any safety concerns. .038 1.94 .101 25 0.921 TOTAL 6.97 8.18 4.96 33 .000 Table : Family Safety - Individual items When viewed graphically, it is clear that across both gender and service organisation, there was an overall reduction in safety concerns (Figure 7). Figure : Family safety by gender, service type Parenting Arrangements and Orders Perceptions of satisfaction with parenting arrangements Regardless of the parenting orders in place, participants were asked to indicate whether parenting and property arrangements were resolved, and their perception as to how the current parenting arrangements are working for them, the other parent and for the children. Higher scores indicated greater degrees of resolution and/or satisfaction with arrangements (Table 24). Agency Male Female All % change T1 (baseline) T2 (10 weeks) T1 (baseline) T2 (10 weeks) T1 (baseline) T2 (10 weeks) CCVT (N) 18 10 14 3 32 13 Mean scores Perception of satisfaction with arrangements (SD) 15.83 (5.12) 17.20 (4.73) 13.57 (4.93) 12.67 (1.53) 14.84 (5.09) 16.15 (4.60) 8.8% Uniting (N) 34 10 32 66 22 Mean scores Perception of satisfaction with arrangements (SD) 15.56 (4.02) 14.10 (6.17) 14.06 (6.03) 14.33 (4.58) 14.83 (5.11) 14.23 (5.23) -4.0% TOTAL (N) 52 20 46 15 98 35
Appendices Appendix A: Program Logic Parenting Orders Support Pilot: Consolidated Program Logic Program Goal: The POP Pilot aims to divert parents from initiating applications for contraventions of parenting orders in the event of disputes. CCVT: To assist separated parents to minimise conflict, promote the best interests of children and divert them from initiating contraventions of parenting orders Background/ Needs Objectives Inputs Activities UF: Post Orders Intervention (POI) CCVT: Post Orders Support (POS) Participants Short-Medium term outcomes (consolidated list) Long-term Impacts Most families with disputes about parenting children post separation resolve these out of court. However, a small minority return to court multiple times. It is in the best interests of children for these disputes to be resolved quickly and for parents to have skills to manage ongoing parenting responsibilities cooperatively. To address this the AGD is conducting a Parenting Orders Assist parents to comply with existing court orders Avoid/reduce parents returning to court To assist separated families to minimise conflict and focus on the best interests of their children AGD: Funding and pilot support Unifam and CCVT: training, facilities, resources, access to support, resources CFRE: Evaluation framework, support, data analysis and reporting. Intake and assessment. Initial individual consultation Co-facilitation hybrid model*; Assessment: risk; suitability etc. Coaching, education, support Triage sessions (hybrid); multi-party & / or individual interviews / feedback, where appropriate Parties / families with Interim or Final Parenting Orders, seeking or likely to need support and assistance to implement orders and avoid return to court Increased understanding of parenting orders / court system. Greater insight re impact of poorly-managed conflict, litigation on children. Increased insight and accountability. Improved parenting capacity and ability to focus on needs of children. Increased predictability / stability for children Increased ability to manage conflict / decreased conflict / family violence Enhanced communication & negotiation, inter-parental relationships More cooperative post separation arrangements. Improved child, individual, family & community wellbeing Reduced litigation / court demands
Program Enforcement Pilot (PO Pilot), operating in two organisations across three sites (Unifam: Parramatta; CatholicCare: Geelong and Dandenong). Individual counselling, as needed Referrals *i.e. Family Counsellor and FDRP /family law specialist Better knowledge of supports to help with disputes outside More cooperative arrangements & improved trust Enhanced relationships between parent-child and significant others Reduced legal costs, financial strain Increased child & adult wellbeing, increased optimism, empowerment.
things considered? © David Goldberg, 1978 All rights reserved. Published by GL Assessment Limited The Chiswick Centre 414 Chiswick High Road, London W4 This edition published 1992.GL Assessment is part of the Granada Learning Group Child Health and Wellbeing In the following, if you have more than one child who is the focus of your parenting orders, please answer in relation to the child of most concern to you. And please complete later surveys in relation to this child also. Your child’s current age in years: _______ In general, would you describe your child's health and wellbeing as (tick one): Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor Compared with other children of the same age, how would you say your child is (circle one response each row): Doing with his/her learning (or school work or academic achievement) Much better Somewhat better About the same Somewhat Much Getting along with other children/people his/her own age Much better Somewhat better About the same Somewhat Much worse in most areas of his/her life? Much better Somewhat better About the same Somewhat worse Much worse Compared to other children of the same age, would you say that your child is (circle one response each row): Is a happy child/person All of the time Most of the time Sometimes Rarely Is a confident child/person All of the time Most of the time Sometimes Rarely Tends to get anxious or worried about things All of the time Most of the time Sometimes Rarely Behaves in a sensible or mature manner All of the time Most of the time Sometimes Rarely Never
Adult Health and well-being We like to know if you have had any medical complaints, and how your health has been in general, over the past few weeks. Please answer ALL the questions simply by circling the answer that most nearly applies to you. Remember that we want to know about present and recent complaints, not those you had in the past. It is important that you try to answer ALL the questions. (Circle one option in each row) Have you recently been able to concentrate on whatever you are Better than usual Same as usual Less than Much less than usual Have you recently lost much sleep over worry? Not at all No more than Rather more than usual Much more than usual Have you recently felt that you were playing a useful part in things? Better than usual Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual Have you recently felt capable of making decisions about things? Better than Same as usual Less than Much less than usual Have you recently felt constantly under strain? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than usual Have you recently felt you couldn’t overcome your difficulties? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than usual
Have you recently been able to your day to day activities? Better than Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual Have you recently been able to face up to problems? Better than usual Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual Have you recently been feeling unhappy or depressed? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than usual Have you recently been losing confidence in yourself? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than Have you recently been thinking of yourself as a worthless person? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than usual Have you recently been feeling reasonably all things considered? Better than usual Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual © David Goldberg, 1978 All rights reserved. Published by GL Assessment Limited The Chiswick Centre 414 Chiswick High Road, London W4 This edition published 1992.GL Assessment is part of the Granada Learning Group Child Health and wellbeing In the following, if you have more than one who is the focus of your parenting orders, please answer in relation to the child of most concern to you. And please complete later surveys in relation to this child also.
sleep over worry? Have you recently felt that you were playing a useful part in things? Better than usual Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual Have you recently felt capable of making decisions things? Better than Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual Have you recently felt constantly under strain? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than Much more than usual Have you recently felt you couldn’t overcome your difficulties? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than usual Have you recently been able to enjoy your day to day activities? Better than usual Same as Less than usual Much less than Have you recently been able to face up to problems? Better than usual Same as usual Less than usual Much less than usual Have you recently been feeling unhappy or depressed? Not at all No more than usual Rather more than usual Much more than usual
Focus of individual therapeutic work with adult client: Personal/individual Intrapersonal/relationship with ex-partner Co-parenting issues Adult attachment assessment/education Through the eyes of the children (their experience and needs) Emotional literacy and regulation, emotional attunement of children Communication education and skills development Conflict resolution education and skills development Trauma-response and recovery Other. Please specify: ________________________________________________ FDR No. of sessions:______ FDR process variations: Legally-assisted (lawyer/s present) Shuttle (separate rooms) Support person/s present Interpreter/s, Auslan present Consult with Child Support or Centrelink Other. Please specify:_________________________ Therapeutic work with child/ren Individual sessions Sibling group sessions Child group program No. of sessions (of __________ _________ Family Therapy (both parents and child present) No. of sessions:_______ Parent-child dyadic work (one parent and child/ren) No. of sessions:_______ Case-management role provided (eg liaison, coordination with other services, referrals)