County Durham Stronger Families Programme

Think Family Partnership Mentor Working Agreement

The following description outlines the scope of the Think Family Partnership Mentor’s support which will be provided to the Lead Professional/ Key Worker through the County Durham Stronger Families Programme.

1.0 Think Family Partnership Mentor Support

A nominated Think Family Partnership Mentor who is experienced in coordinating and delivering ‘whole family’ services will provide support to the Lead Professional/Key Worker to facilitate the development of ‘Think Family’ practice and delivery of the Stronger Families Programme outcomes. 1.1Scope of Mentor Role

1.2 To support practitioners develop knowledge and skills in the Lead Profession/Key Worker role;

Lead Professional Role is to:-

 Act as the first point of contact for the family, planning that contact flexibly to meet the family needs;  Build a relationship with each family member based on trust and respect, modelling effective communication and persistent support;  Coordinate the whole family assessment process;

 Co-ordinate the multi-agency team around the family to participate in putting together a plan with the family, clearly outlining the sanctions and rewards that are associated with each goal;  Work with the family to support and challenge them towards reaching the care plan goals;  Advocate for the family with other agencies;  Negotiate and build effective relations with other practitioners from across the Children, Young People’s, Adults, Criminal Justice and Health Service workforce;

 Understanding the roles and remits of other practitioners and agencies;

 Regularly review progress and address barriers to progress in partnership with the multi-agency team(TAF)including all family members;  Support the family to use universal services effectively gradually reducing the intensity of involvement as the family functioning strengthens;  Plan an exit strategy with the family and TAF, ensuring ongoing support from relevant services (as 1 necessary) and build in post intervention contact. 1.3 Support the Lead Professional to progress ‘Think Family’ intervention with the family as outlined in Single Assessment Framework Procedure and Guidance and escalate where necessary;

1.4 Support the Lead Professional and the TAF members to identify solutions where there is a lack of change in the family or outcomes are not being achieved; 1.5 Attend case discussions with the Lead Professional and the line manager where requested to do so. 1.6 Ensure all appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools are utilised and completed as required by the Stronger Families Programme Performance Framework;

1.7Support opportunities for reflective practice including facilitating Think Family Learning Networks across County Durham;

2.0 Record Keeping

The Think Family Partnership Mentor will keep a record of all discussions, advice and actions which result from the mentor support. The notes will be recorded on a Contact Record Sheet with a copy given to the Lead Professional /Key Worker for their own records.

3.0 Supervision, line management and accountability

3.1 Supervision and line management will continue to be provided through the Lead Professionals/ Key Workers host organisation. Supervision is key to improving professional practice and is integral to the whole system change required for all services to ‘Think Family’. Ensuring effective supervision is available to all practitioners working in a Think Family way does require a level commitment to making supervision a priority and providing the resources this requires – particularly time and training.

3.2 All Lead Professionals/Key Workers should expect to receive appropriate case management supervision regularly on a 4-6 weekly basis.

3.3 Accountability for the family casework will remain with the host organisation. The Think Family Partnership Mentor and Lead Professional relationship will however be confidential subject to Caldicott and Children and Adult Safeguarding policies and procedures.

2 4.0. Escalation Procedures

4.1 Any areas of concern or disagreement between the Think Family Partnership Mentor and Lead Professional/Key Worker will be required in the first instance to be resolved between the two practitioners. A record of the discussion and resolution should be made. If a satisfactory resolution is not achieved then both practitioners will need to bring the issue to the attention of their own Line Manager.

4.2 To ensure the Stronger Families Programme supports families to meet intended outcomes it is essential that the intervention takes place in a timely manner as outlined in the Single Assessment Procedure and Mentor Intervention Process.

To support this, the following procedure will be followed in the event that timely intervention does not take place;

4.3 If within 10 working days of a Stronger Families case being allocated, arrangements have not been made between the Think Family Mentor and the Lead Professional for the initial planning meeting the Line Manager for the Lead Professional and Mentor Supervisor (Karen Davison Tel 03000 268904) to be informed to expedite progress; 4.4 If any of the timescales set out within the Single Assessment Framework for the completion of the assessment or arrangements for ‘Team around the Family’ are not met the Lead Professional/Key Worker and the Think Family Partnership Mentor should discuss this with their own Line Managers and measures taken to ensure the family receives timely support; 4.5 Where there are concerns about the progress that families are making against the intended outcomes and the multi-agency team is not able to effect some change in the family within a 3 month period, the case should be formally discussed within case supervision arrangements by both Think Family Partnership Mentor and Lead Professional respectively to agree next steps; 4.6 Where agencies/services do not attend/do not send a report/do not send apologies for the ‘Team around the Family’ meeting, the Lead Professional will inform their Line Manager who will in turn contact the respective Line Manager.

5.0 Think Family Partnership Mentor Impact Evaluation

To support the Think Family Services Team to continually improve the support offered by the Think Family Partnership Mentors all Lead Professionals accessing mentoring support will commit to complete an Impact Evaluation questionnaire. This will be sent directly to the Think Family Services Development Officer. The Lead Professional can also share this information with their Line Manager.

3 6.0 Mentor Working Agreement

I have read and understand the terms of this agreement and agree to adhere to the contents.

A Mentor Agreement is required to be signed by the Lead Professional, the Think Family Partnership Mentor and their respective Line Managers for each family supported through the County Durham Stronger Families Programme. A copy of the signed agreement should be held in the family case file and by the Think Family Partnership Mentor.

Name of Lead Professional Signature Commencement Review Date Date

Name of Lead Professional Signature Commencement Review Line Manager Date Date

Name of Think Family Mentor Signature Commencement Review Date Date

Name of Think Family Mentor Signature Commencement Review Line Manager Date Date