Close of training of the Multi-agency course
A Solution Focused Approach - Working with Families  
for Bournmouth Social Services

Our early practice in preventative and crisis intervention work with local authorities (see Prevention & Intervention Programme) alerted us to the changes that could be brought about in a family session by tinkering with statutory language before the session had even begun: i.e. when introducing ourselves to families - we would always offer a handshake (an obvious greeting to many but alien to some) and were increasingly aware how the simple symbolic gesture ("I mean you no harm") was instrumental in reducing anxiety and conflict especially where the family were referred as part of a statutory order.

Also, when introducing our work in the session we would replace the usual Child Protection statement of "if anything causes us concern for your child's safety - we may have to inform a colleague".  This was always bound to antagonise any parent, regardless of risk to a child  so we change this to "if anything causes us concern for your safety or your child's safety then we may have to share this with a colleague but will always discuss this with you first". 

This simple insert of the "parent's safety" first allowed us to advise the parent of our statutory responsiblity without creating animosity.  This all sounds so simple and obvious but workers can often escalate a situation by a simple word - equally workers can de-escalate a situation by changing a simple word.

Using the Solution Focused Approach when working with families, offers an opportunity to recognise that things have gone wrong, talk about times when it was better and assess what is different now.

Sometimes it's just helpful for parents and Carers to acknowledge that what is different is that the child is entering a different development stage or a new partner makes them feel insecure. It is helpful too when the worker subtly normalises that.

During sessions with families, talking about preferred futures rather than the stopping of destructive past or present behaviour can be a watershed, a point of change. The tasks and monitor charts we use are offered to begin the start of new behaviour rather than the stopping of old behaviour.

Many workers have expressed their pleasure at working not only in such a positive approach but also with the structure that a Solution Focused way of working brings.

The worker has a clear structure to sessions and works to bring the family on a different journey, one which highlights existing competencies and harness those, reinforces strengths and resources within their relationship with their child and encourages a move forward rather than an exploration of the "stuckness" that necessitated the referral.

The approach is in keeping with good practice guidelines including the Effective Practice guidelines, Child in Need Assessments and offers evidence-based practice tools in that:

• It is child-focused
• The Solution Focused approach works with the whole family and involves examining what the issues are with each family member
• The child's agenda is heard from the child's perspective with the use of drawings (The Change Balloon (EM) and other visuals)
• The approach looks at the child in the context of the family and their wider environment
• Throughout the sessions, the worker works in partnership with the parents and child
• The approach works with the strengths of the family and builds on them
• The cultural needs of the family are met throughout.

As well as equipping staff with the collaborative language of the Brief Therapy model and the visuals and tools of the Examine, Repair & Move On Approach - the training also covers the importance of reducing conflict between worker and client - this is especially relevant when working with families. For further details on this element of the training please see Communications Skills Training page.

If you would like further details of this work, our in-house and public training courses or to be put in touch with other teams who are using this approach in their work with children, young people and families - please contact us at families@brief-therapy-uk.com or call on Tel 0208 542 9310.