Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: Family Safeguarding

Many elements of the model were implemented as planned, even in the context of a global pandemic. There were challenges recruiting Mental Health Practitioner roles in particular, and staff reported varying confidence in case recording within the workbook.

Staff were mostly positive and welcomed the Family Safeguarding model. Motivational Interviewing training in particular was well received. Families also provided positive feedback about Adult Practitioners.

Staff felt they had a good understanding of the model. However, over half of staff felt they would benefit from more training and support.

Staff felt that Family Safeguarding increased shared responsibility and input from a range of professionals, that families received more immediate and intensive support and were empowered to make and sustain change.

Potential benefits of Family Safeguarding reported by staff and families included improved engagement of families, improved outcomes particularly for parents, as well as de-escalation of statutory involvement and greater momentum, i.e. less drift and delay in cases. This evidence is anecdotal and not evidence of impact.

This evaluation only captures the early stages of implementation of the Family Safeguarding Model. Interpretation of findings from this pilot evaluation should also consider that Family Safeguarding in Cambridgeshire launched immediately before the first Covid-19 national lockdown.

Based on what worked well in Cambridgeshire as well as ways in which delivery could be improved, when introducing Family Safeguarding in a new area local decision makers should:

• Work with partners to establish locally tailored and flexible strategies for recruitment of Adult Specialist Workers, which consider local and national pressures that might affect recruitment of certain roles
• Support relationship building and knowledge sharing between Adult Specialist Practitioners and social care staff
• Ensure in-depth training for staff in respect of use of the workbook and the facilitation of group supervision
• Coordinate ongoing support and guidance for using the model, particularly the workbook. This should include support for teams outside of Family Safeguarding, as well as partners
• Ensure staff have time in their workload to develop and embed the necessary skills
• Facilitate consistent messaging and modelling of Motivational Interviewing from managers and senior leaders
• Review local systems and processes to ensure alignment with the workbook as far as possible.