‘GEEZA BREAK’

SUPPORT SERVICES TO FAMILIES / GRANDPARENTS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Voluntary OrganisationMulti-source funding package including

Social Work ServicesEstablished for over 13 yearsRegistered with the Care Commission

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Primarily service available within East Area Team

Launch in February 05 of 2nd Generation Care - Working in partnership with the Glasgow Association of Family Support Groups

AIMS OF SERVICE

To support the most vulnerable families who have no contact with other agencies

To help families remain together To enhance parenting skills To encourage community involvement To work in partnership with statutory

agencies to enhance the quality of children’s lives

To give unsupported parents/carers a break

SERVICES PROVIDED

Respite Care ServiceRespite Sitter ServiceRespite Support ServiceCentre Based Respite Side by ServiceParents Groups

RESPITE CARE SERVICE

Respite Carers are fully vetted and assessed

Planned and emergency overnight careDay careCare plan

RESPITE SITTER SERVICE

Sitter service in families own homesLarger sibling groupsChildren with additional needsEstablishing routines within the family

home4 hour sessionsPlanned overnights can be provided in

specific circumstances

CENTRE BASED RESPITE

Available during school holidaysT.O.F.F.E.E. Club – St Ann’s Primary /

2nd Generation Care based with in the Millennium Centre PossilPark

Huge Demand for service – most vulnerable children offered service

Supplemented by purchasing vacant After School places

SIDE BY SIDE

Intensive one to one support for parentsParents affected by mental health and/or

addiction issuesBuddyingMentoringHome SupportHealth Strategy Group

REFERRAL PROCESS

Duke Street OfficeFamily Circumstances – reason for

referralFamily Details – Children’s informationSocial Work InvolvementCare PlanType of Service RequestedAgreement of Family

SERVICES NOT PROVIDED

Befriending ServiceEscort ServiceHome Help ServiceTransportCasework

Referral Criteria

Children aged 0yrs – 16yrsParents experiencing stress, crisis or

isolationParents/children affected by disabilityParents/children affected by medical

conditions including mental health issues

Referral Criteria

Parents going through a rehabilitation programme for addiction issues

Grandparents / extended family members who have care or responsibility of a child through Drug or alcohol misuse.

To prevent family breakdown

Case Study

Parent made a self-referral to Geeza Break in 1999. Presenting issue was aggressive behaviour of her

two sons, at that time aged 5 and 7 years and parent’s inability to manage this behaviour. Initial task was working with parent on parenting skills and assisting her cope in crisis situations

After a period of 7 months, parent was motivated enough to allow service to be withdrawn.

Case Study

Over the years there was recurring referrals, mostly for crisis situations and intervention was intensive and time limited, re-enforcing work already carried out and helping parent set new limits and boundaries.

As the children grew up the parent became increasingly unable to deal with the changing needs of her children and the challenges of being a parent.

Case Study

Gradually she abdicated her responsibility as a parent and the children were in the main unsupervised and allowed to ‘do as they liked’.

The children now 15, 13 and 9 years, opted out of school and their behaviour was increasingly violent and aggressive, they were involved in gang fights, alcohol and drug use.

Case Study

Input by Geeza Break

Regular weekly overnight respite for the two-year old child, primarily to offer support to the parent but also to monitor the child’s welfare.

Case Study

Weekly respite for the 3 older children using a male respite sitter to give a positive male role model.

Intensive input by Side by Side to support the parent on issues of setting limits and managing behaviour. Input also on establishing household routines, especially in relation to school attendance. Motivation and confidence in dealing with alcohol issues was another key feature of the intensive support provided.

Case Study

Outcomes Referral to Social Work Services and support to

parent through the Children’s Hearing System. Recognition by parent of the positive input by Social Work Services.

Referral to Addiction Services for parent. Whilst still using alcohol, parent is acknowledging the difficulties this causes her and wants to reduce her dependency on alcohol, particularly during stressful situations. Level of alcohol now reduced. Work is still ongoing.

Referral to Family Support Service to address the ongoing issue relating to previous sexual abuse.

Case Study

Children now attending school on a regular basis Level of offending behaviour, dramatically

reduced. Standard of physical care for 2 year old has

increased and as a result child protection procedures did not need to be implemented.

Despite acute difficulties within the family, children have remained at home and have not needed to be accommodated by the Local Authority.

Practical and emotional support from the extended family has been encouraged and is now being used by parent.

Case Study

Conclusion The situation described above is typical of the

family situations that Geeza Break works with. Some of the major contributors to the changes were as follows:

On all occasions, the family made a self-referral. This evidences motivation to change and enables the organisation to work along side the parent to effect this change.

Offering a range of support to the family both practical and emotional. The issues for this family were complex and varied. It was important that all issues were addressed, but in the context of what else was happening within the family setting.

Case Study

Trust was a major issue for this family, as parent feared children would be removed and taken into care. Time is needed to build relationships and allow parents the opportunity to experience positive input. Over the years we have been operational, establishing trust has proved to be one of the major influences in promoting lifestyle changes.

Local recruitment of respite providers and family support workers enhances the skills and knowledge of the local community as well as providing reassurance for families who the service.

Further Information

Geeza Break

312 Duke St

Dennistoun

Glasgow

G31 1QZ

Tel: 0141 550 2828

Email: geezabreak312@hotmail.com