PAUSE Dorset

Public Health Dorset are commissioning a delivery organisation to set-up a Pause Practice and deliver the Pause programme. Pause is a licensed programme that is delivered using a social franchising approach. This means that while the programme is delivered by a local delivery organisation it will look, feel and be branded the same as other Pause Practice’s in the network.

Pause is an evidenced based national programme for women who have experienced, and are at risk of experiencing, repeat removals of children from their care. The programme aims to give women the chance to pause and take control of their lives.

The aim of the Pause service is to give women an opportunity and support to ‘pause’ and take control over their lives, to improve their wellbeing, resilience and stability. This helps them set in place strong foundations on which they can build a more positive future for themselves.

The service will contribute to a reduction in future numbers of infants brought into care and the disruption of trans-generational cycles of poor outcomes experienced by some of the most vulnerable families in our community.

Women who experience repeat removals often have complex needs which are not currently being addressed. They experience trauma and grief associated with the removal of their children, they may suffer from domestic abuse, mental health illnesses or substance misuse and they may have built up a mistrust towards children’s social care services, resulting in poor engagement with existing support services