Giving Scotland’s vulnerable anddisadvantaged children a brighter future

“Unpacking the Needs of the Individual”

Sandy Corlett

Services Manager

Family Support Team - Edinburgh

Cuiken House - Midlothian

Aims and Objectives of Family Support TeamAims and Objectives of Family Support Team

To provide intensive therapeutic and educational support to children under twelve and their families, who are experiencing significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, to improve the quality of life for the children and to maintain them in their own school, family and community.

To provide individual work for children

To provide support in the classroom and school setting

To support parents and carers to promote positive family relationships

To provide group work programmes for children which will promote the development of social skills

Unpacking the Needs of the IndividualUnpacking the Needs of the Individual

Early Identification

Assessing the needs

Working together with family and school

Multi-disciplinary working

Choice of interventions

Early IdentificationEarly Identification

Prevention

Establishing relationships with families

Using transition times

Reduce stress on teachers

Don’t overlook girls

Assessing the NeedsAssessing the Needs

Holistic, ecological framework

Concurrently with family and school

Multidisciplinary work

Focus on developmental needs of child and family

Flexible, creative, generating solutions

Establishing relationships, assessing relationships

Complexities

Working TogetherWorking Together

Relationships

Partnerships/reluctant partners

Partnership - power sharing, empowering

Face to face meetings

Time

Work with tensions

Multiple perspectives

Multi-disciplinary workingMulti-disciplinary working

Collaboration

Valuing differences

Working at boundaries

Constant change !

Choice of interventionsChoice of interventions

To effect change and promote resilience

Repertoire of methods :-

Family work - counselling, parenting skills

Video Interaction Guidance (V.I.G.)

Small class groups Whole class work Social skills groups

Parenting groups e.g. “Incredible Years”

Transition groups

Joint work with other agencies