SOLAS FAMILY INTERVENTION and PREVENTION PROJECT
Who are the SOLAS Family Intervention and Prevention Project? And why do we exist? Troubled Families
The SOLAS Family Intervention and Prevention Project (FIPP) was established in 2010 to reduce anti social behaviour in households were the behaviour was so challenging that the family were at risk of either losing their home and/or children were at risk of being accommodated by the local authority. The service offers intensive and holistic support to families who are in crisis. We work with the hardest to reach families who currently cost statutory services huge amounts in agency time, care and criminal proceedings, police call outs, evictions, legal proceedings etc. If problems are unaddressed the cost to agencies of long term intergenerational problems is on such a scale it s hard to quantify.
Our model of working with a multi skilled staff team significantly reduces the need for ongoing involvement of other services. However the main cost effectiveness is demonstrated by the significant change in the direction of the families futures, preventing their problems escalating and reducing the burden on publicly funded services at a time of increasing cost pressures.
CURRENT FUNDERS The service is a joint Charter Housing and SOLAS project and is currently funded by a mixture of local authorities and social landlords.
Why FIPP is INNOVATIVE Concentrates on family led recovery, working alongside families to achieve what they see as important. When success is defined by families (rather than professionals) they feel motivated to achieve their goals Builds meaningful relationships to promote family autonomy Facilitates effective multi-agency working It can be creative and flexible with its deployment and use of resources. Staff have small caseloads and work flexibly when needed by the family; families are supported on average 9 hours a week as long as they need it, this can be for up to two years for some.
Phase 3 5 to 10 Months Maintenance Phase 2-4 hours per week Phase 4 10 to 18 months Optional Phase 2 hours a month, more if needed Phase 2 6 Weeks to 4 Months Transitional phase Up to 6 hours per week Phase 1 6 Weeks Intensive Phase 10-12 hours per week
TAILORED SUPPORT Freedom Programme Motivational Interviewing Anger management Solution Focussed Brief Therapy Child Therapy Restorative Approaches Parenting Programmes
WHAT WE DO... Home management skills Budgeting, benefits and debt support and advice Setting up daily routines Supporting regular school attendance and support for children in the school setting Parenting Skills, family relationships Support to attend meetings Building confidence and self-esteem Positive changes to drug and alcohol use Help and advice on employment and training Other help or support that the family may need including referral to other agencies
OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES November 2013 to March 2015 90.5% of children were prevented from being registered on the Child protection Register 96% of children were prevented from entering local authority care 71% of young people and children accessed appropriate education 94%of children and adults were prevented from becoming involved or continuing to engage in ASB and criminal behaviour 88% of young people and adults were supported to address Domestic Abuse
Cost effectiveness: FIPP delivers strong value for money generating savings of at least 1.17 million over 3 year (2010 2013) (Cordis Bright, 2013)
The cost effectiveness of this service was evaluated independently by Cordis Bright in 2013. Below we have illustrated the main conclusions in relation to cost-savings: Area of saving What these savings include Amount saved Successful tenancies for 14 families at risk of homelessness/ eviction Staff and legal costs, security, rent loss, repairs and re letting. Housing partners incur these costs. 140,856 in total ( 10,061 per family) 12 of 16 households disengaged from antisocial behaviour Police time, Youth Offending Service involvement and court appearances 201,696 ( 16,808 per child)
Outcomes from one local authority: 120 100 80 60 Before Interveniton After Intervention 40 20 0 Familys facing eviction warnings or final Familys involved warnings given in ASB Police interveniton Neighbour complaints
Complexity of the issues: 90 80 70 60 50 40 Before interveniton After Intervention 30 20 10 0 Physical health issues mental health issues Domestic violence substance misuse
NEET FAMILIES: 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Before Intervention After interveniton 30 20 10 0 Problems attending education Employment Social service Involvement debt concerns
The FIPP approach We work holistically with all families. This means working with each individual family member and the family as a whole. We focus on what the family sees as the key issues whilst ensuring that the needs of statutory agencies already involved with the family are also met, so preventing escalation and homelessness. FIPP takes a strength based restorative approach with the families that they work with. This means personal and family boundaries are discussed collaboratively. Everyone is encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and the impact of their actions on themselves, their family and the community. So by building, repairing and maintaining relationships within the family and with other professionals, empathy, understanding and support can be developed.
Discussion Are now all working within a multi agency, whole family paradigm to prevent homelessness? What are the remaining challenges in practice? How do we overcome them?