another household member Children engaging in self-harm, substance misuse, dangerous sexual behaviour or other ‘at risk’ behaviours Parent is young – under 21 years Evidence of social isolation and lack of social supports Resident in violent, unsupportive neighbourhood Parent experiencing high levels of stress Physical and social environment chaotic, hazardous and unsafe Family remaining unpredictable and potential for change limited circumstances and carers display capacity to cope
High Strength Low strength Parents demonstrating good protective attitudes and behaviours Family with clear, positive boundaries in place Family demonstrating good communications Family demonstrating ability to positively process emotional issues Family positive about receiving help Young person living in supportive environment Network of support and supervision available to young person Young person with positive plans and goals Young person with positive relationship with school/work Young person with experienced consistent positive care Young person with at least one emotional confidant Young person with good problem solving and negotiation skills Family being adaptive and developed new coping strategies when stressed Parent/carer demonstrating empathy and responds appropriately to cues of others Family taking responsibility for their own behaviour Able to manage frustration and unfavourable events – displaying good self- regulation when confronted with stress or difficulty Resolving conflicts and make decisions that support stability and recovery (assertive, tolerant, forgiving, cooperative; able to negotiate and compromise) Thinking and communicating effectively (rational cognitive processing; adequate verbal skills; able to focus on the tasks requiring attention) Parents and young person appearing not to care what happens Young person with poor communication skills Young person with no support/is rejected by parents/carers Young person excluded from school Family/young person appear isolated Absence of supportive/structured living environment Parents/carers unwilling/unable to supervise Family enmeshed in unhealthy social networks Family with high levels of stress History of unresolved significant abuse in family Family unable to understand the consequences of their behaviour Family refusing to engage or only engage conditionally with services Lack of available resources to meet identified needs resources (familial and professional) Family seem vulnerable in the face of perceived external threat Family displaying low self-esteem Family/child with negative expectations and goals Family isolated and lacking in supports Please plot the matrix indicator scores on to the following framework:
Child 1 Child 2 Child 3 Child 4 Parent/Carer Family & Wider World Name of Child Resistance indicators Measures of motivation Please indicate factors are clear from the information collected: Shows concern and has realistic confidence concern, but lacks confidence Seems concerned, but impulsive or careless Indifferent or apathetic about problems Rejection of parental role Parent is concerned about children’s welfare; wants to meet their physical, social, and emotional needs to the extent he/she understands them. Parent is concerned about children’s welfare and wants to meet their needs, but lacks confidence that problems can be overcome. May be unwilling for some reason to ask for help Parent seems concerned about children’s welfare and claims he/she wants to meet their needs, but has problems with carelessness, mistakes and accidents. Professed concern is often Parent is not concerned enough about children’s needs to resist ‘temptations’, e.g. competing demands on time and money. This leads to one or more of the children’s needs not being met. Parent actively rejects parental role, taking a hostile attitude toward child care responsibilities. Believes that child care is an ‘imposition’, and may ask to be relieved of that responsibility. May
Parent is determined to act in best interests of children Has realistic confidence that he/she can overcome problems and is willing to ask for help when needed Is prepared to make sacrifices for children. when needed. Feels unsure of own abilities or is embarrassed. But uses good judgement whenever he/she some action to solve problems. not translated into effective action. May be disorganised, not take enough time, or pays insufficient attention; may misread ‘signals’ from children; may exercise poor judgement. Parent does not have the right ‘priorities’ when it comes to child care; may take a ‘cavalier’ or indifferent attitude. There may be a lack of interest in the children and in their welfare and development take the attitude that it isn’t his or her ‘job’. May seek to give up the responsibility for children Having completed the resistance-related indicators it is important to make some sense of what it means – are the parents likely to engage meaningfully with the plan to manage and reduce the risk or comply sufficiently to avoid any consequences. A crucial task for the worker, therefore, is to assess the parent’s commitment to engaging and implementing change. Horwath and Morrison (1999) developed a model to provide a framework for assessing parent’s responses to change. GENUINE COMMITMENT Parent recognises the need to change and makes real efforts to bring about these changes TOKENISM Parent will agree with the professionals regarding the required changes but will put little effort into making change work While some changes may occur, they will not have required any effort from the parent. Change occurs despite, not because of, parental actions