Successful transfer of care

Jodie Sara, a care and protection social worker from Christchurch City site, relates her experience of being at a family group conference at the Hutt Valley site. She was there to hand over care of a family with an eight year history of care and protection issues for the children. 

"I enjoyed seeing how another site runs an FGC and it was great to see the coordinator, Asenati Toilolo, so involved," says Jodie. "Asenati took the information I had given her and drew the Te Whare Tapu Wha model on the whiteboard. She filled in the foundations with the concerns and then proceeded to wipe off the various supporting walls as they were discussed, showing very clearly how without the right supports and a good foundation, the roof of the house would fall off/over under life's stress.

"It made it very clear for the family the impact of their behaviours and what they need to do to provide a good solid foundation for their children's lives.

"Asenati also used a second visual tool, where she drew a big green circle and then drew a smaller red circle inside it, taking up the majority of the space. She explained that it looked like the care and protection concerns (the red circle) took up all of life's room. She explained that actually the concerns - drug use, domestic violence, etc - are only a small part of life and that the family could now fill up the big green circle with lots of little green circles, which she called things like: attending church and courses, family time, etc, until the big green circle was filled with lots of little green circles and the one red circle ‘faded' into the background. It was again, a very effective tool for the family."

Asenati appreciated Jodie's approach to the case. "Jodie was prepared on all levels. She delivered the history of concerns succinctly and with ease, and such clarity ... painting the breadth and depth of concerns in clear language and with intensity, so that all of us could comprehend the children's plight if no changes were made to their environment.

"As our office picks up the mantle, I am confident we have a good sense of what needs to change, and the social worker allocated will continue to grow what your site has started, to ensure these children a better future."

Pam Walkinshaw, who was site manager at the time, was impressed by both Jodie and Asenati's work with this case. "This reflects excellent social work practice. Jodie's ability to provide clear and succinct information to the family helps clarify for them the care and protection issues, and her ability to engage with the family while talking about the concerns is a skill that supports the family group conference process and outcomes. I also want to acknowledge the case consultations that have taken place to support the transition of the family to another site, and the willingness of that site to work collaboratively with other sites."