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© 2016 Resolutions Consultancy Draft Whole Case Trajectory prepared by Andrew Turnell and Katrina Etherington, Neglect, Drug Use and FDV Case. Reproduction and distribution only with direct

permission from Resolutions Consultancy

Case Trajectory: Neglect, Drug Use and Domestic Violence (Signs of Safety Trainer Licensing Document 8)

Preamble and Context

This case trajectory document was created by Andrew Turnell and Katrina Etherington. This case involved 3 children 14 months, 3 and 6 and a mother 33 weeks pregnant. The children were very recently removed because of neglect, drug use (mostly meth) and domestic violence. This is a very typical case of domestic violence for any CPS agency with a male perpetrator, involving physical violence matched by emotional violence of threats and control.

This trajectory document was prepared as a draft for the case worker, supervisor and director and offers Resolutions Consultancy’s current best thinking about how to work with domestic violence focusing particularly on:

• Perpetrator accountability • Safety planning for children and mother• Safe reunification for children with their mother• Possible trajectory for safe and rigorous reunification of the father including thinking through the

point at which professionals might work with the mother and father together.

These are complex and contested issues in the child protection field and as such we offer this as a draft document about a possible trajectory for dealing with a domestic violence of this sort of case. We are including this trajectory as part of the Signs of Safety licensing application process to engage the Signs of Safety trainer and consultant community in this development work and to make the point that when it comes to formulating a pathway through the life of a complex case all of us are learning.

Who’s Involved?Maddison Mum 25yrsDavid Dad 27yrsThree children to one father. Together and Mum is pregnantMichael Son 14mthsMichelle Daughter 3yrsJason Son 6yrs

Lisa Paternal Grand MotherTrent Paternal Step Grand Father Maddison has two sistersLeanne 27yrsSister 23yrsMGM

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BackgroundWhy is this an open case?

Michael, Michelle and Jason taken into care since Friday – placed with Leanne 27 who is married with five children of her own

Home dirty, food scraps, clutter, very dirty, not hygienic Michael, Michelle are delayed. Confirmed by GP reports Jason 63% attendance at school Michael not crawling – neglect concerns Parents haven’t engaged well Didn’t have ante-natal care up until 2 weeks ago David pushed and shoved Maddison who called Police identified amphetamine use for both

parents DV Pushing shoving yelling Taking kids and demanding money for her to get them back. Madison is 31 weeks pregnant.

Draft Danger Statements Caroline and Nadia Overton CPS can see that Maddison and David have done many good things in raising their kids they can see this in how smart Jason is and he clearly got this from his Mum and Dad. Alongside that Caroline and Nadia are worried that David and Maddison throughout their relationship of 8 years they’ve always been using drugs from reports provided by the CPS, it seems to us that David and Maddison’s use of meth has got really intense with them using several times per week and sometimes daily. Caroline and Nadia are worried that when David and Maddison are using drugs heavily, the kids don’t get looked after properly, the house becomes very messy and Jason, Michelle and Michael don’t get food, don’t get cuddled or played with like they need. They’ll be hungry, scared and wonder if they can depend on their Mum and Dad, Jason will end up trying to care for the little ones and be scared about everything. The kids are already behind in their development, reports from doctors already state that Michael should be walking and Michelle’s speaking should be more developed than it currently is. Caroline and Nadia are worried about the screaming and fighting that the kids are seeing, this normally begins when David and Maddison start picking at each other and putting each other down. This normally escalates to David losing control completely as he goes on the attack saying really ugly things about Maddison that no kids should ever hear being said about their Mum. Then David starts using his strength and power to push shove and hurt Maddison in front of the kids or when they’re not around. We’ve also been told that David is using the fights as an excuse to take off with the kids and control Maddison by saying you have to do what I say or you won’t see the kids again. If these things keep happening Caroline and

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Nadia CPS are worried that Jason, Michelle and Adrian will grow up really scared of their Mum and Dad and this will mean they will be so confused, angry or sad about what’s happening at home they won’t be happy kids, enjoying their family, learning what they need and having good friends.

Draft Safety Goals

Caroline and Nadia, Overton CPS want Maddison and David to be full active parents of Jason, Maddi, Andrew and new baby whether they are together or not. Overton CPS want the kids to be living full time with one or both of them because it’s clear to us that as David says ‘those kids are our life’. For this to happen Caroline and Nadia need David to bring together a group of support people who can act as a ‘safety network’ for him and and the family. Together with Caroline and Nadia and the safety network, David needs to create an explanation for the kids and Maddison about what this fighting and violence has been all about. After this David, the safety network together with us needs to create and use a straight forward safety plan with rules that Maddison agrees with and the kids understand to show everybody that arguing will never end up in any form of violence so everyone knows that Maddison, the kids or anyone will never get ridiculed, threatened, pushed, shoved, hit, attacked or hurt. The plan will show and prove to the kids that they will always feel and be safe when their parents fight and David is getting angry.

Caroline and Nadia, Overton CPS want Maddison and David to be full active parents of Jason, Maddi, Andrew and new baby whether they are together or not. Overton CPS want the kids to be living full time with one or both of them because it’s clear to us that as David says ‘those kids are our life’. For this to happen Caroline and Nadia need Maddison and David to bring together a group of support people who can act as a ‘safety network’ for them and the family. Working initially with Maddison and David separately Caroline and Nadia will work with them and the safety network, to create an explanation for Michelle, Michael and Jason about the drug use and the kids not always getting the care they need. After this, Maddison and David, the safety network needs to create and use a straight forward safety plan with rules that can be explained to the Michelle, Michael and Jason to show everybody that the kids will always get the food, be cuddled, played with, have good daily routines, get the medical care and get to school and kindy like they should whether Maddison and David are using drugs or not.

1. Scaling Questions

Draft (Neglect) Scaling questionOn a scale of zero to 10 where 10 means that whether Mum and Dad are together or not and whether either or both of them are using the drugs or not, everybody knows that Michael, Jason and Michelle and new baby will always get the food, cuddles, attention, medical care and always get to school or kindy like they should and the kids always feel confident these things will always happen whatever problems their parents have and 0 everyone’s worried about the kids and there’s no clear plan and no one knows who will do what when Maddison and or David are using drugs

Draft (Violence) Scaling question On a scale of zero to 10 where 10 means whether Mum and Dad are together or not and whether either or both of them are using the drugs or not, Michael, Jason and Maddi, Maddison and the safety people all know and are happy with the plan that David and his support people have created. So 10 means that everyone is happy with the plan because they all know exactly who will do what so that arguments David and Maddison have never become screaming scary fights and David never ridicules, threatens, tries to control, shove punch or hit the kids, Maddison or anyone and 0 means everyone’s worried about the kids and there’s no clear plan for how David will keep control himself when he gets angry and no one knows who will do what so the kids are always safe when Maddison and or David are using drugs they start arguing and David gets violent and out of control.

4 Possible Existing Strengths and Safety Questions

Katrina’s Existing Strengths Questions Maddison what do you see is best about you as a Mum? Maddison what do like most about David as a Dad? David about Maddison as a Mum? Grandma what do you think is best about Maddison as a Mum?

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What have you noticed that Maddison/David does best to make sure the kids get the love care and attention they need when she/he is having contact with them?

What have Maddison and/or David done to make the contact time they have with the kids happy and fun times?

What would the kids say they love best about Mum? Leanne (carer) what have the kids told you they miss most about Mum/Dad, the good times

they’ve had with Mum and/or Dad? Maddison, you've talked about ‘enough being enough’ what are your ideas about how to move

forward in a positive way in your life? Mum what is your best quality? Grandma, what do you think Mum is best qualities are? Mum who has helped in most in the past? Who gives you the most help now?

o What do they do that is most helpful? o What positive difference has that made for you/the children?

What steps have you already taken towards getting the kids back into your care? Mum, what do you think would impress Caroline most about what you have done to get the kids

but in your care? What else? What could Caroline tell the Director about what you are doing best that is moving you towards

reunification? Grandma, Lisa (PGM), Trent (PGF) what have you seen Maddison/David do in her care of the kids

that impressed you most? Maddison, David tell me all the reasons why you think Jason should be going to school more often?

Tell me about what you have done to help Jason, Michelle and Michael learn best? Tell me about a time when you have taught Jason, Michelle or Michael something new? Who in the family is most worried about David and Maddison using drugs/fighting/not looking

after the house and the kids? When have Maddison, Grandparents, Jason seen David control himself when he’s started to get

angry and frustrated? Tell me a time when you were tempted to use drugs but did something else instead? Maddison, imagine you were writing a job application

What skills and qualities do you have that you would highlight to any future employer that would help them to see you’re the woman for the job? Imagine that application was for job was in a child care centre. What skills and qualities would you write about that would help them see you were the best person to look after the kids in their centre?

Katrina’s Existing Safety Questions If asked, would David say it was wrong to threaten to push, shove and yell at another person and

to do this in front of children?? What would he say are all the reasons you should never do something like this to another person, especially in front of children?

When have David and Maddison been able to stop themselves using drugs like speed and make looking after the kids their priority?

o How often have they been able to do this? o How did they do this?o How else? How else?o (If don’t know) Is this a question you would like to ask them?

Have there been times when David and/or Maddison have wanted to use drugs and have made sure the kids have been looked after by someone who isn’t using drugs and could make sure they had everything they needed?

Andrew’s Existing Strengths Questions Tell me about a time when you’ve seen Dad control his temper anywhere – at work, playing sport,

when he was driving anywhere any time – when where and how, who helped?

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Who has had the best conversations with Dad about anything difficult, money, his dress sense, his work habits anything? Who, how, when and where

If I asked Dad who would he say he most respects as a man? Who would he say he most respects as a man who can control himself and channel his fury and anger?

If I wanted to ask Dad who in his life was the worst he’s ever met at controlling their rage and that pent up desire to attack and control that men can get into when they are really angry what are your ideas about what I’d need to do to be able to have that conversation?

If I asked Dad what do you suppose he’d say on a scale of 0 to 10 where 10 is yep a man needs to be able to control his anger and emotions and 0 is its absolutely fine for a man to lose control anytime he’s worked up anywhere whether at home at work, driving on the sports field or if you’re watching the footy – where would he rate it? What would he say he does to control himself at the footy?

Andrew’s Existing Safety Questions

If I asked Dad what would he say are all the reasons Dads should control their temper and their anger around their kids?

Tell me about a time when you’ve seen Dad control his temper when he really could have got mad at his kids or at Mum?

What would Dad say are the ways he usually uses to calm down when his pissed off at home around the kids?

Who knows you best Dad? So If I asked your Mum what would she say is a time she’s seen you control yourself when you were doing meth the kids were there and you were angry?

If I asked the kids what would they say you do to calm yourself down so you don’t hit, push, shove or shit all over Maddison when your angry?

Maddison when Dad takes off with the kids you must get really scared especially when he rings you up and says you’re never “gonna” see them again unless you do what I say (what are you worried he’s going to do?). That's a really ugly situation who is best able to deal with David to get that sorted out and the kids back safe?

When Dad takes off with the kids what would they say, how long would they say it takes for Dad to calm down? What would they say Dad does that calms him down? (what would the kids say they’re most scared off when this happens?) Who would they say helps when this happens?

5 Work with and for the Children

Three Houses with the Children

If caseworker hasn’t already done it we would want him/her to lead a Three Houses process with Jason and Maddi. Possibly use large butchers paper one for each house for all to work on (probably best if can make this work) or give each their own 3 sheets of paper. Get their exact words and drawings

Focus first on House of Good things – their favourite things to do in their family, what most like about Mum and Dad and what most love about being in their family.

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Move then on to House of Dreams – asking if their life was exactly the way they wanted it what would be happening– get lots of detail look at all aspects of their life, their friends, what they’d be doing, what friends they’d have, where theyre going, who’d be coming over to their home etc. After this start to focus more on life at home

what would it be like? What would kids be doing? What would be happening? How would Mum be different? How would Dad be different? Who would be coming over? What would they be doing when they come over? How would they help? What would family be doing? How would they be dealing with problems in the dream house? What will people to if they get angry?

(Working in the House of dreams will probably naturally lead to House of worries as in house of dreams they’ll probably say things like Mum and Dad wouldn’t use ice/drugs, wouldn’t go crazy etc. so you can invite him to write Mum sad and drinking as something to put in the house of worries.)

Finally, House of Worries (you may not even need to explicitly focus here as the children will probably take you to worries from the dream house work. If the children are anxious don’t push at the house of worries conversations – its more powerful and important to get the picture of the houses of good things and dreams) – when were at home what were the things that they didn’t like? What were the worst times?

After you’ve finished with the House of Worries, ask what would be the rules in your Dream House so everyone understands the things you’re worried about and so they won’t happen again?

Consider asking one of them to read out the words they have used and record these words to play for Mum and Dad and network.

Make sure to get the kid’s permission and take this work to Mum and Dad and support people – this will probably have big impact on them.

Certainly possible to use the Safety House tool (created by Sonja Parker) as an alternative or in conjunction with the three houses work – but given time probably one or the other. We would probably favour the three houses because it has a clearer focus on the good things, which will mean a lot for parents when taken back to them. Important to get out the children’s rules in the house of dreams if don’t use the Safety House

• Family Safety Objects This happens during the safety planning work – see timeline. Get the Jason and Michelle to choose a family safety object for the home and Jason to have his own separate small safety object (something for example like a toy car) and identify who outside of the home he chooses to give this to (neighbour, relative, teacher) and how e.g., put in neighbour’s letter box, on teacher’s desk etc. It's the adult’s responsibility to then act to find out what the child is worried about and get it sorted out. Part of the adult safety planning work is to decide what will be done if/when child gives their safety object to the person.

6 Family Safety Journal

Create a family safety journal that everyone can fill in during and following contacts. The kids can and should be encouraged to do drawings in the FSJ focusing first on best times/what most enjoyed on when family together on contact. Then everyone can write anything they are worries about.

7 Building the Network

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Think through the questions in the finding networks document and those in the learning document and draft some clearly focused questions to Maddison and David about involving support people. The children at least Jason should be involved in choosing a safety person and look at him having a pre-paid mobile phone that he can contact his safety person any time day or night and they will immediately come and take all the kids away/take responsibility to get the worries sorted out. Jason should have some ‘fire drill’ practice runs at calling his safety person at different times (particularly at times he’s previously felt scared by what’s happening, eg 1am in the morning when he’s woken up to screaming and thumps).

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8 Possible Words and Pictures (working on the assumption Maddison and David want to be and will work towards being together)

TitleThis is story for Jason, Maddi, Michael and new baby about why they aren’t living with Mummy and Daddy right now

IntroductionThis words and pictures story has been written especially for Jason, Maddi, Michael and new baby by Dad, Mum and Kate to explain all the things that have been happening and what Mum and Dad are doing to get the problems sorted out so they can all be back together again.

BackgroundMum and Dad love really love Jason, Michelle and Michael and are really excited about the new baby coming. Mum and Dad are proud of their kids and love all the times they do things like going the zoo and to beach to swim and play cricket. Dad especially likes to try and bowl like Dennis Lillee and have a laugh with the kids when they play. Mum and Dad love to take the kids to the zoo to see the animals and joke about leaving Michelle behind with the apes because she climbs like one. Dad also likes to help Jason with his homework and both he and Mum were really happy and proud to go to Jason’s school and see him get his award for writing the story about the Tiger.at the Zoo.

Picture: Mum with pregnant belly, Dad, Jason, Michelle and Michael playing cricket at the beach. Everyone is smiling and Jason is saying ‘I can’t wait until baby comes and can play cricket too’. Michelle is saying ‘I want us to take baby to the zoo to see the animals’.

Who was worried and what they were worried about?Sometimes there are problems in the family and Mum and Dad get worried about things like whether there’s enough money to pay bills, get petrol and buy food. Mum and Dad always like to have times when they can forget about their worries, they often do this by inviting people over for a party. To forget about their worries Mum and Dad sometimes use drugs like ‘speed’ to relax and usually they can keep control of what they use.

Picture: Mum and Dad talking to each other with Mum saying ‘I’m really worried about the house being such a mess’ and Dad saying ‘don’t worry about it, let’s forget about our problems for a while and party’.

Sometimes Mum and Dad have found they can’t control the drugs and instead the drugs control them and Mum and Dad want more and more. When this happens Dad and Mum use too much ‘speed’ for too long and the drugs make them act crazy and sometimes they end up having big scary fights where Dad pushes, shoves and yells really nasty things at Mum. Sometimes the fights are so loud they hurt Jason, Michelle and Michael’s ears and made them scared. Caroline from CPS was told that that Jason would get so worried he would take Michelle and Michael into the bathroom and lock the door and tell them stories to help them not be so scared.

Sometimes after one of the big fights Daddy would pack Jason and sometimes all the kids into the car and drive off and then he’d phone Mum and say she had to do what he says otherwise he won’t bring the kids back. Jason says this is really scary because when Dad is so angry he drives really dangerously and is swerving all over the road. When Daddy does this, this really scares Jason, all the kids and Mummy. Daddy says he understands that this is a stupid thing to do, and he’s really sorry he’s done this. Dad says he understands how much it scares the kids and has said he won’t ever do that again. When this happens Dad usually goes to Nanny Lisa and Pop Trent’s house and Lisa looks after the kids and Pop takes David for a walk to calm him down.

Picture: Dad with angry look on face with Jason, Michelle and Michael in the car, Jason saying we’re really scared

When Dad and Mum want to use drugs all the time they sometimes don’t pay attention to Jason, Michelle and Michael like they need. This means that Jason didn’t always get to school, Michael hasn’t learned how

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to crawl and walk, and Michelle to talk like they should and sometimes the kids don’t get enough food, and the house has gets in to a big mess. Because sometimes Mum and Dad are too tired or asleep from using drugs Jason has to stay home and look after the Michelle and Michael. Mum and Dad know this is wrong and will make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Picture: Michael in the lounge room lying down. Jason is with him and not at school. Clock showing it is 10 past 10 and a Monday. The house is messy. Parents still upstairs in bed.

What happened because of the worries?Caroline and her boss Glenn were so worried about Jason, Michael and Michelle that they talked to a Judge about what had been happening. Dad says things weren’t as bad as Caroline says but agreed that kids should never be around adults using drugs and loud angry fighting. The Judge decided that Jason, Michelle and Michael should live in another family until Mum and Dad sorted out the problems. Mum and Dad asked that the kids stay with Aunty Leanne, Uncle James and their kids and Caroline and Glenn agreed this was a good idea.

Picture: Caroline, Mum, Dad and Lawyers talking to the Judge. The Judge is saying ‘no child should be around grown-ups fighting like this and not being looked after properly. Jason, Michelle and Michael need to stay in foster care until the worries get sorted out’.

What’s happening now?Mum and Dad love Jason, Michael and Michelle like Dad says ‘the kids are our whole life’. Mum and Dad want the whole family to be back together again and have said they will work really hard to sort out their problems so this can happen as quickly as possible. Mum has said ‘enough is enough’, it’s not ok for Dad to scream and hit and says she’s had enough of the drugs too which aren’t doing anyone any good. Dad says he agrees with Mum. Dad says he knows that he needs to change and be a Dad that his kids can look up to and be proud of and be a Dad that can control himself when he gets upset or angry.

Picture: Mum saying ‘enough is enough’. Dad is saying ‘yes you’re right and we need help’.

Mum and Dad have asked Grandma, Aunty Leanne, Uncle James, Nan and Pop to help them and will ask some other to help too. Caroline and Kate will help Mum and Dad and all the adults to work out a safety plan with good rules in it so everyone knows that the kids will safe when they come home and they will have always get the love and care they need. Caroline and Kate have agreed that if everyone works hard Mum and kids can be living together back at Ellen Street by the time baby is born in 6 weeks. Dad will see all the kids too and will start having visits to the home when all the kids are back. When Dad sees the kids or is at the home there will always be someone else there too. The grown-ups are planning for Dad to be living back home in July during the next school holidays. Everyone is working really hard to make sure Jason, Maddi, Michael and new baby will always be safe and happy!

Picture: Grown-ups sitting together developing a safety plan. Grandma is saying ‘we need this plan to have rules that everyone will follow so we know Jason, Maddi, Michael and new baby will be safe’. Mum is saying ‘I want the kids to be home with me as soon as possible’. Dad is saying ‘I think it will take me longer to get my plan together and make sure it’s working. I can visit the kids until we are all ready for me to move back home.

8 Possible Safety Planning Questions

Maddison and David being together or separatingTo Maddison with support people

Segue:We could take the view since Maddison has said enough is enough and we are going to separate that that is the final decision and do all our planning based on that. But our experience is its never quite that simple so if we say to Maddison and David okay we’re just going to plan on you separating we know from our experience that we end up blind-sided when couples get back together. So we think it’s our job to talk to you each and to your support people about what’s going to be the best way forward for the two of you and the

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family. We can work with whatever is decided together or apart – our focus is going to be on making sure the violence stops, the kids are cared for well and can grow up safe and confident in both their parents whether they are together or separated. The way we see it is there’s one set of problems if you’re separated (eg how contact arrangement are handled safely. Finances so the kids get fed, clothed provided for etc, how will David get to meet the new baby and everyone know it’s all going to be done well and safely etc) or together (How are we going to safety plan so that everyone including the kids know nothing like the fighting, drug use and kids not getting what they need problems can happen again.

So given that what have you been thinking? What thoughts/conversations have you had about why you should get back together? What thoughts have you had about why Maddison and David should stay separated? What has David done to try and get back with Maddison (you)? What have the kids said that has made you feel most pressure to get back together? If every possible person, kids, David all the people you know did and said everything to get you

back together what would they do and say?o Who would do what?o Who would say what?

Who is the biggest believer Maddison and David should stay separated? What do they say are the reasons for that? Who is the biggest believer Maddison and David should get back together? What do they say are the reasons for that?

On a scale of 0 to 10 where 10 is the decision’s made whether it’s to separate or get back together and nothing’s going to change that and 0 is I’m thinking about it all the time, what should I do, is it the right decision to separate where are you right now?

What’s going to help you make the right decision? If you were to get back together and you made it for the right reasons what would you have to see

different to know okay this is a good decision and things will be different and know that this really will be different?

If you were to get back together and you made it for the right reasons what would the kids/ Aunt, grand parents have to see different to know okay this is a good decision and things will be different and know that this really will be different this time for the kids and for Maddison?

To David with support people at minimum Lisa and Trent

Segue:We could take the view since Maddison has said enough is enough and we are going to separate that that is the final decision and do all our planning based on that. But our experience is its never quite that simple so if we say to Maddison and David okay we’re just going to plan on you separating we know from our experience that we end up blind-sided when couples get back together. So we think it’s our job to talk to you each and to your support people about what’s going to be the best way forward for the two of you and the family. We can work with whatever is decided together or apart – our focus is going to be on making sure the violence stops, the kids are cared for well and can grow up safe and confident in both their parents whether they are together or separated. The way we see it is there’s one set of problems if you’re separated (eg how contact arrangement are handled safely. Finances so the kids get fed, clothed provided for etc, how will David get to meet the new baby and everyone know it’s all going to be done well and safely etc) or together (How are we going to safety plan so that everyone including the kids know nothing like the fighting, drug use and kids not getting what they need problems can happen again.

So given that what have you been thinking? What thoughts/conversations have you had about why you should get back together?

What thoughts have you had about why Maddison and David should stay separated?

What has David (you) done to try and get back with Maddison?

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Its sounds like David is pretty desperate/determined to get back together. We know how much he wants it and do you think we see wall the things he’s doing (the texts and calls to Maddison, the texts to the kids, to all the family etc etc etc) to get back together as a good thing or do you think how he’s acting is making us more worried? What would he need to do to let everyone know he wants to get back together and do that in a way that was positive for the situation?

If he wanted to do it in a way that was creepy and behave like the guy from stalker city what would he do?

Where do you see his behaviour right now from 0 its creepy, manipulative and controlling to 10 its just him saying straight and clean with now manipulation or threat what he thinks is best?

What have the kids said that has made you feel most pressure to get back together?

Who is the biggest believer Maddison and David should stay separated? What do they say are the reasons for that?

Who is the biggest believer Maddison and David should get back together? What do they say are the reasons for that?

On a scale of 0 to 10 where 10 is the decision’s made whether its to separate or get back together and nothing’s going to change that and 0 is I’m thinking about it all the time, what should I do, is it the right decision to separate where are you right now?

What percentage of the day are you thinking about trying to get back together?

What are you doing/what could you be doing to give yourself a rest from all that for while? Would you make better decisions if you could put the bone down for a while? Trent what could you do to help David let it go for a while? Would it help the kids and Maddison if you backed off? How would it help?

What’s going to help you make the right decision?

If you were to get back together and you made it for the right reasons what would you have to see different to know okay this is a good decision and things will be different and know that this really will be different?

If you were to get back together and you made it for the right reasons what would the kids/ Aunt, grand parents have to see different to know okay this is a good decision and things will be different and know that this really will be different this time for the kids and for Maddison?

Drug UseWhat is this going to be? A ‘no use’ or ‘safe use’ safety plan?

How much is Maddison and David’s drug use tied to their fighting? How much would Maddison and David say it is tied to their fighting? What would the children want Mum/Dad to do? How much do you think Jason would see the drug use being connected to the fighting?

Grandma/Nana/Pop? Other people you use drugs with? For David and Maddison:

Tell me about the times when you most want to use ice/speed? What happens for you when you start feeling the urge to use? What do you notice about yourself? What would others notice about you at these times? What impact does it have on how you are with the kids? How would others know if you were using drugs?

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What are the signs of red flags they’d need to look out for? What would you want or expect them to do if they thought you were using/affected?

Fighting What has been the first, worst and last incident of fighting between David and Maddison? What’s the worst of it that the children have seen? Have there been times when David and Maddison have been fighting and been able to cool it and

walk away? Call for help? Taken steps to avoid a fight?

Mum/Dad, tell me about a time when you’ve been under the most pressure – maybe you and David/Maddison have been in the middle of disagreeing about something or maybe you’ve wanted to use really badly but instead you coped making sure the kids have what they need as a priority and were loved and supported? When else? When else?

How did you do that? What helped you? Who helped you? What would the kids say they noticed about you at that time? If I was there when a fight is about to start between you, what would I see/hear/notice happening? What would be the first smallest sign that that a fight was starting?

NetworkWhat do you think David and Maddison need to do to convince the kids/grandma/the others in the network that they can use safe for the kids/not use at all? What rules need to be in place to show that?

Who do you think David and Maddison will suggest as safety network people? Who else needs to be involved? Who would David and Maddison say needs to be involved? Who would Leanne as Aunty (as current carer and significant family member) want to be involved? Who would the other children want to be involved? Who might David and Maddison say will be the most challenging person in their family and friend

network to convince that they’ve made the changes they need to make and are following the safety plan once it’s developed?

For David and Maddison:What are your ideas about who will do what in everyday life to keep the children safe and happy no matter what happens? What else? What else? What do you think your Mum/step-Dad/friend would suggest should/could happen to keep the kids safe and happy? Imagine we sat the kids around the table and asked them to draw up a safety plan that had rules in it about who should do what, when. What do you think they would write (or draw) about who would be allowed to visit their home? Who wouldn’t be allowed? Who would live there? What the rules would be?

Parenting When has David and Maddison been challenged most by the children’s behaviour? What impressed you about how she/he handled that? What else? When you think about the times David and Maddison have spent with the children since they’ve

been living with Leanne and James, what has impresses you most about their interactions with the children? What can you honour them for?

For David and Maddison (or ask as Relationship Questions):Imagine Michelle is 50 and she is reminiscing with her grandchildren about her Mum and Dad and what life was like when she was a child.

What would you like her to be most proud of? What would you like her best memories to be of you? Tell me about a time recently when you’ve spent time with the kids and one or more of them have

been difficult to manage but you coped? What was the worst of their behaviour? What did you do?

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Thinking about when you’re spending time with the kids, what is the most challenging time of day? When do they test you the most? What is the worst of their behaviours?

Triggers/FlagsDrugs

Tell me about the times when you most want to use ice/speed? What happens for you when you start feeling the urge to use? What’s likely to trigger you in to wanting to use? What would the other say is likely to trigger use? What do you notice about yourself when you use? What’s the worst of your behaviour? What would others notice about you at these times? What impact does it have on how you are with the kids? How would others know if you were using drugs? What would they notice you doing differently

when dealing with the kids? In how you relate to each other? What are the signs of red flags they’d need to look out for that would tell them they need to do

something? What would you want or expect them to do if they thought you were using/affected?

Fighting If I was there when a fight is about to start between you, what would I see/hear/notice happening? How would the kids know? What would they start doing? What would be the first smallest sign that that a fight was starting? What sort of things usually trigger a fight? What do each of you do when the other starts a fight? Has there been a time in the past when someone has been able to intervene cool things down?

Who was it? What did they do?

Miracle QuestionAt some stage it might work really well to spend a whole session building a miracle question conversation with Maddison and the kids, and David and the kids or everyone together (this would need to be much later in the piece) around the question:

Suppose tonight you go to bed and overnight a miracle happens, you wake up tomorrow morning and everything is just the way you want it in your family what would be happening . . . Explore this in exhaustive detail from everyone’s perspective with lots of relationship questions and write down all the answers to give back to family.

What else will be different, what else, what else, what else (until no more ideas)

What will be different about you? What will they notice different about you? How would people outside the family your Mum/friend/neighbour discover this miracle had

happened to you? When was the most recent time you can remember your life being like this life after the miracle? When would the Jason say was the most recent time he can remember life being like this life after

the miracle? If I was in your home watching you go about this new way of being for you all what would I see?

Make this a fun exercise for all the family to build a picture of what want and create energy for coming back together and for building the safety plan.

reviewing the rules and refining the details.

9 Bottom Lines

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David and Maddison to work with us separately to prepare a simple explanation for the children

about what happened and why the children are living with their aunt and her family.

David and Maddison separately to involve a network of family and friends who understand the problems and will help to make sure the kids are always safe in the future whether they, are together or not. David needs to find four more people as well as Trent and Lisa (six total) including two men. Maddison needs at least four including Aunt who has the children and MGM

David and Maddison and their support people to work together with us to create a clear simple plan with rules the children can understand so they know they will be safe even if David and Maddison use and or fight.

As part of creating the safety plan, David and Maddison need to decide whether this is a don’t use at all safety plan or a safe use safety plan. If it's a safe use safety plan how this will happen needs to be explained and clear to the support people and the children.

As part of creating the safety plan, the Jason and Michelle will have their own safety people and will know it’s okay for them to tell someone outside the family if they are worried and they are involved in deciding who their safety people will be.

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10 Draft Timeline

Date Tasks Meetings/Monitoring Contact Changes

Preparations Present and gain agreement on trajectory from all key professionals involved. Professional internal to CPS, service providers and professionals involved in legal process such as child representative before going to the family.

Week One Candid talk with Maddison, Leanne and mother (always see Maddison with her support people all the time!) to discuss her thinking and the possibilities with her about whether she wants to separate from David or whether we should be working with them considering the possibility they may get back together. Explore with her if they are going to get back together what would need to be different for her and for the kids and what David would need to demonstrate if she was to reunite. Explore what he may already be doing to get back together. Important to underline that CPS can support either the critical point either way is to be certain it safe and the violence is stopped for the kids and for her.

Explain that we have a possible time-lined proposal that looks at the possibilities for getting the kids back to her first and then later if they want and choose to be together with David coming back home.

Explain the trajectory plan to the Jason with Maddison

Two meetings with Maddison and her support people and with David and his support people

Safety Journal use begins

Safety network people present at all contact with David and children and Maddison and children.Brief safety guidance for these contacts

Preferred Immediate level of contact

Maddison: daily contact at her Leanne’s place when sister is there and have Maddison doing lots of things for the kids to help Aunt Leanne

David: once or twice/week supervised by Lisa and Trent – one of these being David there to help L and T when they have the kids overnight on Wednesday. David NEVER to be alone with the kidsBrief signed document

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and Leanne so he understands what’s planned too. Maybe use a calendar.

Do the same with David, Trent and Lisa (always see David with them – get the village working for you) as have done with Maddison

In separate meeting separately with Maddison and David talk through detail of trajectory, the contact routine for parents and kids and establish safety journal where everyone including supervisor/safety network people write in the journal.

Explain to both Maddison and David we are going to do the work separately for some time at a minimum until the words and pictures explanation is delivered and Maddison has them back for 6 weeks after baby born because:1 We need to hear from both of them separately and we need to know Maddison is able to speak freely and use the network for support with no sense of threat from David.2. Even if and when we have sessions with them together (whether they stay together or not) CPS will still have sessions where we see them separately to satisfy ourselves Maddison can always speak freely, and use the network for support ideas etc.

Week One Mum and Dad each find more support people. Maddison to find at least 2 more additional to Leanne and her mother.

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David needs to find 4 others quickly additional to Trent and Lisa, two of these need to be men.

Safety network members are needed specifically for the children, before the initial reunification with Maddison we need to see that they are well connected to Jason and he will talk to if worried. More discussion of this will occur in the latter safety planning process.

Week One Lead My Three Houses (My3H) session with Jason and Michelle (probably together) to get their experience of their life and of being in their family.

Week Two to Four

Case manager works with Dad and Mum separately to draft Words and Pictures (W&P) explanation for Jason, Maddi, Michael and baby.

Maddison, Jason, Maddi, Michael and baby reunification (interim) safety planning with Maddison and her four support safety people. One or two member needs to be people who are significant to the children

Safety planning work with David and his support safety network focused on contact and safety planning for contact following the birth and then following reunification of baby and children to Maddison so David feels fully involved and everyone is protected from the emotions getting away from him

Weekly review and planning meetings with David and Maddison and their support people separately focused on safety journal reports (SJs), the kids three houses and on preparing the W&P explanation.

Before presenting the W and P to the children take explanation to child rep if there is one to make sure they think it addresses the seriousness and can see progress. Show them the My3H and safety journal too

Before presenting the w and p it needs to be devised whether this will be done with Mum and Dad together or whether this will be done separately and the W and P will be presented to the

Words and pictures signed by parents children, network and workers

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(or anyone) and making a mess of the process. kids twice in two separate groups, Maddison and her support people and Dad and his.

Week Five Present Explanation to Jason, Michelle and Michael As above this is either done as one meeting or two separate meetings. Case Manager and any other key professionals should be present and. Invite child rep to come if one has been allocated

Increase contact to . . . and now have it supervised by network people working to the agreed interim safety plan signed by parents and network

Week Five/Six Expected Birth of new Baby

Reunification of all children to Maddison at family home

Meeting to review reunification to MaddisonPlan detail of support roster of people coming to the home

Someone in safety network takes responsibility to take and make sure David gets to see heaps of photos

Meeting with David and support people –safety plan further deepened focusing on the outings he will take the children on starting week seven Progression of plan recorded on the interim document

First week have a safety network person living with new baby and the kids. Lots of other people visiting every day to provide support

Contact with David and new baby with clear arrangements as per planning above

David to have one to one time with new baby with Lisa and Trent present

Weeks Seven through Fifteen

Work with Mum, Dad and network to deepen safety planning building always from successes, and the everyday details of care. Focus on when parents have handled pressure well. Work through key issues – drug use, fighting, neglect Worst possible Times, Triggers and Stressors, Red Flags and Who will do what in everyday life to keep the children safe and happy no matter what happens. Workers prepare for all sessions with focused questions.

Work with children – reviewing safety journal with

Two focused safety planning and review meetings with David and Maddison separately, building toward the David coming home and the contact that increases at 10 to 12 and weeks 13 to 15. Always start with the good things from contact followed by things to be resolved and firmed up

Meeting with David and all support people – they prepare a list of all the reasons for the kids to explain why dealing with stress by hitting, shoving abusing is wrong. Say he says still it wasn’t that bad

Starting week 7 David with one of the other support safety people gets to take the children on short outings

Wednesday night’s starting week 8. all the kids and baby at Lisa and Trent’s with extra support person there too Is the young baby going without Mum? Baby can go early eve but staying?

If David is going to be coming back to

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them, plan for safety objects and who they want to be their safety person. Involve children in one of planning sessions with Miracle Question process through their dream house and/or safety house

he didn’t XYZ In this meeting clear plans and rules are made about exactly what will happen if it ever looks like arguments are escalating to fighting, what David will do, what the support people will do to deal with his behaviour and how these rules will be explained to the children so Jason in particular knows everything will be ok. Clear series of steps to cover dispute/rows/arguments in the home

With Maddison and her support people make sure the decision making for reunification is solid and for good reasons if going ahead.

In weeks 13 to 15 if reunification of David is happening then 2 more meetings with David and Maddison together with respective support people present to refine the panning and finalise the safety plan ready to present to the children with all network people present. This meeting also creates a detailed schedule for support people involvement form weeks 16 (24/7 presence to week 26 presence – the ongoing level) Rota to be called for help to both David and to Maddison

The safety plan MUST have a mobile for Jason and safety objects for him – if he moves them, puts the 2nd safety object on the teachers desk or phones his safety people two safety come immediately one takes all the kids away no questions asked and the other sorts out what’s happening with the adults always prioritizing Maddison’s safety first.

the family home starting week 10 thru 12 (3 weeks) have David and Maddison together at Lisa and Trent’s with extra support people on the Wednesday nights. Everyone completes the safety journal on the good things and also focus on when dealt with stressful stuff well. Great.

If David is going to be coming back to the family home starting week 13 thru 15 (3 weeks) have David and Maddison together at Maddison’s home looking after the kids together with 2 support people present. Week 13 do this two times and review. Week 14 do this 4x in this week including 2x at most challenging times of day. Week 15 Have 2 overnight stays for David with network present whole time and 2x one on weekend and on evening (network present).Pressure testing: I would like Mum practicing getting up in the night to ask for help and David walking round the block or going to another room, to calm down

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Meet two times with Maddison and best support person/people and check it’s all working for Maddison

Week 16 Family Reunited Safety network person/people in the home 24/7 week 16

Week 17 to 26 Monitoring & Accountability Monitoring by professionals and network with children. 3 review meetings building always from what’s going well, and difficulties being something to resolve and build more safety

Worker and safety people to be checking with children especially Jason minimum weekly. Arthur to move safety objects 2x to test they work and to use the phone x2 to make sure people will respond as they should

Weeks 17 to 19 Safety network people present 3x/day including Start and end of day (most difficult time of day)

Weeks 20 to 23 Safety network people present 2x/day including start and end of day (most difficult time of day)

Weeks 20 to 23 Safety network people present at least 1x/day including end of day (most difficult time of day). This is probably the level of ongoing network involvement

Week 26 Close case Celebratory meeting Hand over to Safety Network and designated network coordinator takes responsibility to link with the Department if plan seems to slip or any significant change.

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