One of the areas of focus for Changing Futures is to support practice within the system. We support professionals or services who are working with individuals facing Multiple Disadvantage. We particularly try to identify those who have ineffective contact with services, those who are vulnerable to others or themselves and those who face barriers to accessing support. We assess cases to identify the barriers and we facilitate connections between professionals and services to improve outcomes for the individual.
Our approach is flexible. We can provide interventions ranging from immediate advice and linking together of services; to longer term interventions where we will work with a trusted person or people to lead professionals meetings to ensure that the individual has the correct services in place to achieve their goals. In some instances, we will meet with the individual to understand their goals and build a trusted relationship with them if we can.
Process
We can be contacted for advice through multiple channels including:
- Formal referral form
- Emails
- Telephone
- Face to face conversations
We may ask for a formal referral form to be completed, if it has not already, should we feel the case will need more input from us.
Changing Futures will aim to answer queries from any source but does not currently take self referrals.
Information gathering
If a referral does not come from a formal referral form, we will need to gather some further details which may include:
- Location, date of birth, name, current disadvantages faced.
- What if any, services / professionals are involved already.
- Current situation, any specific barriers, concerns or risks.
- Does the individual have any existing trusted relationships or services that they are likely to seek advice from.
Assessment
We will assess the need of the individual and what input Changing Futures is able to provide which might be one, or a combination of; connection, advice / guidance, mentoring / coaching and system support.
Connection
Linking services together – there may be existing services working with the individual but they are unaware of each other, not communicating effectively with each other or understanding each other's role.
Advice / guidance
Looking at barriers and systems issues that are impeding the individual to achieve their goals. We may discuss cases at our weekly team meeting to gather advice from our coordinators to discuss the most appropriate way forward. If a wider partnership discussion is needed we may take the case to a Case Group (see below) to focus on the systemic issues.
Mentoring / Coaching
This would be similar input to that listed in advice / guidance but we would likely stay connected to the case for a longer period of time, supporting existing trusted persons or those leading a case to support their partnership, to look at systemic issues and plan flexible responses. As we are a small team, we hope that would provide skills and connections for those 'leaders in the system' to manage future cases without need to refer to Changing Futures.
System Support
Arranging and supporting connection between services, such as a professionals meeting, to bring those that need to be involved around the table, ensuring accountability for any actions arising from those partnerships. There may be one or a series of meetings. It is important the system remains accountable for individuals rather than trying to pass the responsibility between different teams. Ideally we will support those already working with an individual to do this but in cases where there is no one with a relationship we will do that for the system and try to establish contact with the individual. In these cases we are likely to remain involved in the case for a longer period of time. This support helps ensure the resilience and sustainability of our approach systemically. It also encourages its replication and nurtures practice towards that.
In all cases, the individual should be invited to participate in their support if they wish and we are happy to talk to people about this.
Involvement by coordinator
The work that we will do will vary depending on the needs of the case that has been referred. It can include:
- Immediate action – drawing on existing relationships with services / professionals to link people together to further the ongoing support needs of the individual.
- Short term intervention – understanding from the trusted person / service what the individual wants. Linking services together, ensuring they are talking to one another. Arranging and chairing of professionals meetings to understand the needs, what role they can play, how they will work together and what limitations exist; looking at barriers and working around them.
- Longer term intervention – needing to understand from the individual what they may want / need to achieve their goals. Understanding what services need to be brought together to achieve the individuals desired goals. Creating a more connected, emancipated system for person-centred, trauma informed practice because of these interventions; steering the system to greater success in helping those facing multiple disadvantage.
Once contact is made, we will assess our capacity to determine how soon we can provide support. We will prioritise cases with high levels of need but also consider where we can have the greatest impact. We will endeavour to offer advice and guidance as soon as we can.
Our approach is adaptable to make sure that we provide the most effective intervention for the individual whilst we are working with their case.
Case Groups
We are supported by a series of Case Groups. These have a regular attendance of professionals with extensive experience and knowledge from working within Multiple Disadvantage. The groups exist to try and unlock barriers, suggest flexible approaches and link to their organisations to find responses that might provide a better outcome. As well as working in Peterborough, we also have groups in Cambridge City / South Cambs and in East Cambs.
Monitoring and closure
We will keep a track of progress and outcomes and adjust our intervention as necessary.
As the work progresses individual cases will be discussed at our case groups where necessary.
Once appropriate support is place, goals achieved, issues resolved, or barriers removed our involvement will conclude.
If further action is needed, we can step back in for further input in most cases.