We recognise the most important influence in a child’s life is family. Children who grow up with safe, stable and nurturing relationships form stronger friendships, develop greater resilience, achieve more in school and are more likely to build positive relationships throughout their lives.
We are child focussed in our intent but recognise that the most effective way to help and protect children is to work alongside the whole family. Therefore strengthening families is central to our aims as we know that families have greater capacity for change when we work with them as partners. This is part of an evidence based approach known as Restorative Practice.
We aim to embed a culture across our workforce where dignity and respect is the basis for our interventions. Every member of staff will understand the principles of Restorative Practice and its ethos will underpin all of our work and align to the borough vision of ‘Forging a Future for all’.
Restorative
Practice
Restorative Practice
Restorative Practice is a relationship and strength based approach that embodies a set of core beliefs, principles and a way of being with people that proactively promotes building a sense of community and developing social capital. It is a high support, high challenge model that creates a common language and a common approach to engaging families.
Why restorative practice?
Restorative Practice has a strong international and national evidence base.
A number of authorities have embedded the approach with several, including Leeds and Rotherham citing it as a key element of their ‘Getting to Good’ journey.
Authorities that have implemented the approach have achieved the high success rates with “Troubled Families” and have seen a reduction in children subject to both Child in Need and Child Protection plans. In Leeds CIN rates have reduced by 50%.
The model can be tailored to the residential care context as part of a ‘Restorative Parenting’ approach and is therefore suitable for our internal care homes.
Restorative Practice has been adopted in both Walsall and Wolverhampton allowing for synergies in cross-borough working (including when staff move between authorities) and supporting consistency in the experiences of children and families who move across local authority boundaries.
Dudley's Restorative Practice Consultancy Team!
Dudley's Restorative Practice Consultancy Team are providing Restorative Practice Workshops with an overview of:
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The key principles of restorative practice;
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The importance of relationships;
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The importance of communication
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Using restorative approaches, including affective statements and problem solving circles
Restorative Practice Tools