Family Based Solutions

25 Mar Family Based Solutions

History of Family Based Solutions

Family Based Solutions formerly known as PAARS (parent abuse and reconciliation service) began as a result of the three founders coming across parent abuse in their role as secondary school support workers. It was apparent that the issue did not fit the threshold for social care involvement and was not always dealt with by the police in a way that was useful.  The founders decided that we had to try and support these families and we therefore started our charity from having no knowledge of how to set up a charity or the real extent of the problem outside of our own work setting. We began our work in February 2012 with little more than a determination to support families who had nowhere else to turn. When we began the project there were only five organisations in the whole of the UK providing any intervention.  The need for the service was unknown and the research and literature on the issue was very scarce as most of the support and research information came from the US and Australia.

How they support their families

Family Based Solutions works with the whole family to end the abuse and repair family relationships.  They work with families using the solution focused approach which gives the family full control in the direction of the work and each family member has a part to play in moving the family toward their preferred future.  The family are in the role of expert rather than the practitioner as they will know their family better than they ever will.  The outcome the family have identified will then be worked towards in small manageable steps.  Each family is supported in this by two practioners who allow the opportunity for the family to discuss their issues and more importantly what will need to happen for the family to no longer need our services.

Services they provide

• Solution Focused Intervention
• Parent Support Groups
• DART (domestic abuse recovering together) programme
• Practical Support (benefit claims, benefit appeals, housing issues, budgeting, and other benefit claims) This service is only available to our clients
• Signposting to other useful services
• Positive activities for young people
• Supporting families in official meetings
• Collaborative working with other agencies involved with the families
• Solution Focused Parenting Course
• Solution Focused training
• Solution Focused groupwork in schools

How to refer

They accept referrals from all agencies and families can also self-refer. You can request a referral form via their contact page.  Referral criteria:

• The abuse (emotional, physical, financial, psychological or sexual) is severe enough not to be considered normal defiant behaviour.  
• The family must live or the child must attend a school in the London boroughs of Enfield, Haringey and Barnet.  
• The child must be aged 6 to 18yrs
• DART programme the perpetrator must have left the family home.  The family must commit to the 10 week duration of the intervention and must be able to travel to our office
• A referral form must be completed with the full consent of the family

After a referral is received

• Parent will be contacted by telephone to arrange an initial assessment visit
• Volunteer will arrange a meeting in a convenient place for the parent
• The initial assessment paperwork will be completed and discussed at the team meeting
• The best suited volunteers will be allocated to the family. The volunteer will then arrange the home visits/School visits/office visits
• The visits will continue on a weekly basis. There is no set time limit as to how long an intervention will take this will depend on the progress made
• Volunteers will keep records of all contact made, targets set and actions taken

The role of referring agencies

• To nominate a link person in their organisation who can be contacted for information sharing
• To advise us of any meetings that may affect the work we carry out with the families
• To advise us of any agencies who are still working with the family or have in the past if known
• An overview of the parent/child specifically where there may be any risk to our volunteers
• Make sure consent is sought from the family according to GDPR regulations

What you can expect from us

• Volunteers are fully trained and DBS checked 
• To keep referrers informed of the progress of clients (with the clients knowledge)
• To be open and honest with clients as to the effectiveness of our intervention and refer onto other support if required
•  To keep confidentiality of clients unless we are bound to disclose information according to our protection policies
• Keep regular appointments with clients at a time and place that is suitable to them
• To deal with any issues in a timely and efficient manner
• To give clients sufficient notice if meetings need to be re-arranged
• To endeavour to attend any meetings regarding our clients