A SAFE JOURNEY TO A SAFE LIFE FOR YOUR CHILD
The journey for you and your child, or a child in your care, is outlined as follows:
Assessment
Before your child is accepted onto the programme, it is important to assess whether SAFE can provide the help that he / she needs. They will be asked about their behaviour. Their strengths and resources will be assessed, as well as their problems. Family members will also be seen. The effects of the behaviour on all concerned, the safety of others and the needs of the family are all important factors for consideration at this time.
Assessment is likely to involve the following:
- An initial interview with the parent/s and/or primary caregivers
- Several interviews with your child.
- Interviews with parents and other relevant family members.
- Interviews with caregivers when the child is not living at home.
- Collecting information and reports from other agencies or professionals who are involved e.g. CYFS, Ministry of Education, and other professionals
- Written questionnaires and psychological tests completed by your child.
Once the interviews and tests are completed a detailed report is prepared. This will make recommendations about your child’s suitability for the programme and the type of treatment required. A copy of this report is sent to any referring agencies. After the assessment is completed, you will be advised by us as to whether your child has been given a place in the Programme. You will also be told who your child’s individual counsellor and family therapist will be.
Paperwork
After the assessment you will also be asked to sign a detailed contract which authorises your child to be in the Early Intervention Service. It outlines:
- What the treatment will consist of
- Any safety rules which must be observed while in the service
- Who may be contacted about your involvement with SAFE
- How long treatment might last
- Consent to participate in any research project
In order to be sure we are providing the best treatment possible for your child, SAFE occasionally arranges for the service to be evaluated by outside researchers. Agreeing to participate in research is one of the best ways of helping us to make our services as effective as possible for your child and others.
Once treatment begins you can expect the following components over a period of up to 6 months:
Individual Treatment
Once your child joins the SAFE Early Intervention Service they will have their own individual clinician who will meet with them at SAFE weekly or fortnightly. As well as providing therapy, this person is the key worker who co-ordinates the treatment provided by others involved with your child and your family.
Individual treatment will most likely be effective when:
- Ongoing support of the child is provided by a primary parent figure
- A sense of safety has been or is being established for the child
- The therapy with the child is occurring concurrently with family therapy that is creating understanding within the wider system (family/whanau)
- The clinician is skilful, goal-orientated, conceptually clear, and willing to be directive in a supportive manner
- The child is able to communicate regarding the concerning sexual behaviour and can tolerate the intensity of the therapy process
Family/Whanau Therapy:
- Is child focused using playful approaches that enable the child to have a voice about matters than concern them
- Aims to establish safe and clear boundaries that encourage the development of honesty and responsibility in the family system
- Involves a systemic view that includes all members of the child’s system of concern e.g. absent parents
- Builds on the strengths and resources of the child and family
- Attends to the cognitive ability of the child and to the verbal and non-verbal language of the child
- Aims to facilitate conversations that assist in the negotiation of family relationships that continue in the child’s world outside of therapy
Please note: As our treatment services are adapted to meet individual needs the above pathway is indicative only.
