Family Safeguarding Model

Wigan Borough Council Children's Social Care and the Wigan Safeguarding Children's Board have undertaken a review of models of social work practice during 2021 - 23 as part of improvement work linked to inspection by Ofsted and an increase in both referrals and the number of children entering the care system. Following the review the Director of Children's Services and Director of Finance agreed a business case to implement Family Safeguarding as a model of social work practice which has a strong evidence base nationally in terms of the benefits to children, young people and families and the significant potential to reduce these key drivers/issues.

With Family Safeguarding, it is acknowledged that the issues facing families are complex and that no single professional group has the expertise to solve these alone. The partnership establishes co-located multi-disciplinary teams that consist of adult specialist workers working alongside children and families' social workers, providing help and support in relation to parental problems associated with domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental ill-health. Motivational Interviewing is used as a unified model of practice that improves family engagement and encourages and supports lasting change. This will also bring the levels of consistent good practice that we are aiming for within Wigan as we work towards achieving a good and ultimately outstanding service for our most vulnerable children and families.

The adult recovery workers are employed by the relevant partnership agency in the area and receive professional supervision by a lead specialist worker or a nominated senior manager in the partner agency. They undertake direct work with adults in the family to help them create lasting change through a family programme which is recorded in a digital workbook. Group supervision sessions summarise the work undertaken by the team and discuss the family's progress. Actions are agreed by the social work team manager; this is also recorded in the discreet workbook that is part of the model and enables all Specialist Adult workers working with the family to see the same plan and progress reports and to plan and sequence their involvements with families so that the right work is undertaken with the family at the right time through the team manager oversight.

This is a direct award following exemption approval.