The team is conducting a formative evaluation of the implementation of the Family Safeguarding Model (FSM) in two local authorities in England (Dorest and West Sussex). This is an exciting opportunity to develop learning following the evaluation of the initial design and implementation of FSM by Hertfordshire County Council in 2015 [PDF], as part of the Department for Education Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme.

FSM is a whole family approach to child safeguarding, with five inter-linked key elements [PDF]: 

• Co-location of a multi-disciplinary team - that includes children’s social workers and specialist adult practitioners from domestic abuse, substance use and mental health services.
• Motivational Interviewing as a shared model of practice - a therapeutic strengths-based approach originally developed in substance use services that has been adapted for the child protection context .
• Group-based supervision as the key practice forum - to ensure that inter-professional care for families is co-ordinated, knowledge is shared, progress is monitored and outcomes are reviewed.
• Electronic workbook as a new recording system – to improve information sharing, analysis and decision making and reduce the amount of time practitioners spend on recording to free up time for direct practice with families.
• Family programme – providing a structured framework for practitioners’ direct work with children and families via a module-based approach to parenting assessment, focusing on developing parent’s skills, confidence and capacity to care for their children.

The evaluation is designed around three work packages and is focused on:

• Process of implementation from the perspective of professionals to understand if FSM has been implemented as planned and what factors helped and hindered success
• Service experience from the perspective of parents who have been allocated into FSM
• Performance outcomes data

For more information please contact Dr Lisa Bostock lisa.bostock@beds.ac.uk