Introduction
We know that children and adults rarely live in isolation, and as such, it’s important that when we are working with children or adults we take an approach which takes into consideration the whole family. This is known as a Think Family approach.
Think Family is an approach that can be used in many scenarios, but it’s particularly relevant in safeguarding work, where we want to understand the context in which abuse or neglect is occurring, as well as the support networks available to the individual.
The importance of a Think Family approach
If we don’t engage in a Think Family approach, we run the risk of hyper-focussing on the individual at the centre of our work, and missing important indicators of unmet needs in the wider family. This is particularly important when there are other adults with care and support needs, children, or unpaid carers within the family.
A Think Family approach takes into account the needs of the whole family to better understand the risks, needs, and strengths of the family as a whole. This knowledge can then be used to support the family to reach the best possible outcomes.
In many cases, when we get to know the dynamics of a family, we are able to identify family members who can, or are, providing support to the individual we’re working with. A Think Family approach encourages us to nurture this relationship whilst seeking to understand the demands this places on family members, and the impact on them. Once we understand the wider impact on the family, we can start to put measures in place to support people who have a caring role, and therefore to ensure that the arrangement is sustainable, and doesn’t place them at risk of carer breakdown.
Think Family in practice
So what does a Think Family approach look like in practice? Central to a Think Family approach is a need for all services to work collaboratively towards a shared goal of supporting the whole family. This means actively engaging in multi-agency working, and being curious about the impact of abuse or neglect on the wider family.
For professionals, this looks like:
- Seeking to understand the needs and strengths of the whole family, including the needs of family members providing care;
- Being aware of who else is working with the family and in what capacity, including those professionals working with any children in the family;
- Understanding what the shared goal is for the family, and how you can contribute to that goal;
- Understanding your role in effective information-sharing with other professionals;
- Knowing how to escalate concerns if you find yourself in a professional disagreement.
