Family Rights Group
Key Facts
Location
Project Criteria
Contact
Cathy Ashley
Email
Project funding
£148,465
Funding round
This programme aims to improve the engagement of fathers whose children are involved with social care agencies, in the care of, and decisions about, their children's lives. It will build upon the Round 1 Fathers Matter project by developing a specialist advice and support infrastructure for fathers and paternal relatives living in the 23 areas and by supporting improvements in how local organisations and practitioners work with fathers.
Specifically we will:
- develop a training course for social care workers and managers, in conjunction with Fathers Direct, entitled 'addressing child welfare concerns - working with fathers'. Following a pilot with practitioners in Hackney, it will be promoted in the local areas, with free places for small voluntary agencies.
- support 16 fathers to become joint trainers on this and other social care education courses;
- develop practitioner information networks, via newsletters, the web and local seminars;
- work with two children's services authorities to develop best practice models on working with fathers that could be replicated nation-wide;
- survey and work with local higher education institutions to improve the teaching of social work students on engaging fathers and on involving fathers in course design and delivery.
- provide legal advice and support to at least 700 fathers and paternal relatives living in 23 areas via the advice service and electronic discussion board; and
- provide outreach advice and tailored materials to 40 young fathers in Hackney and support the proposed post of 'mid-husband' (see SKY Partnership's separate local bid).