Please note that all sessions are captured as helpful discussions between members. NAFP do not endorse any recommendations; this is up to the individual agency to undertake own enquiries / due diligence (thanks to all members for sharing their experience and knowledge at forums to provide invaluable peer support).

A few thoughts from me to get us thinking…

  • What do you understand of this term and what it includes etc
  • Is this an area that is given the right attention, is the timing of this work right for children?
  • Who undertakes the work, are you approached to do this? Is this something you offer?
  • The duration of this work and the support around it for children and for carers - as this as we know is very intense and powerful for everyone and does this increase behaviours that needs reassurance?
  • What comes under the umbrella of life story work and how is this finally presented to children - a full book of their life or something less so formal

Members discussion

  • Many have been asked by the LA to undertake the work
  • How can this be done without access / co-operation from the parents – some LA’s give full access to all info / people – receptive to requests
  • Some offer life story work “since you have joined us” – capturing this chapter of a child’s life to contribute to the bigger picture
  • Richard Rose – is the main training platform for this work – some agencies have trained various workers – support workers, or therapists
  • The programme offers ongoing support to those trained – offers refreshers, virtual support groups – there are 2 offers – 12-week diploma and an advanced 6-day certificate – (the advanced cert cannot be done without the diploma)
  • Difficulties to keep the momentum of life story work – some children have experienced 6 + social workers and the work is forgotten, left and not prioritised
  • Those that offer it – pre work agreement – that talks of expectations and agreements to be given access – build chronologies
  • Timeframe – difficult to put on this work – but agencies talked of 6 months and review – however worked with one child 13 mths – alongside this work was self-esteem work for the child etc· Aim to undertake the full work over a year – and if a child has had to move on – examples of the worker remaining within the agency – agreed where possible
  • Costs – not per session – some agencies offer this as part of the therapeutic package – not standard placement for children arrangements
  • Most say it sits in their clinical team – anyone undertaking the role has access to their general supervision and clinical supervision to ensure can be held
  • Some do not offer life story but all offer capturing of memories – in memory boxes and books
  • During life story things can become very disruptive for the child and this can also impact on the foster carers – heightened behaviours etc
  • The request is not just for “settled” children – but a recognition that hard to undertake this work if children are moving around and the process stops and starts – also when picking up someone else’s work this can be hard if the standard is poor and sometimes better to start again – this is not helpful for children – but sometimes this work is undertaken by CCSW who are not trained to do this and leave, can be rushed and lacks depth
  • Not just about creating a book, but expectations for delivery and working through this – helping children to understand their story
  • GDPR and confidentiality – need to draw up contracts – sometimes the LA worker sits alongside the IFA worker when accessing files and info
  • The work can take the worker to “dark places” and the support around this needs to be in place – must be cleverly written
  • How this work is undertaken for children with additional needs, non-verbal etc – lots of pictures, animation, interactive play
  • Theraplay
  • Relationships based – secure base model
  • DDP
  • Working alongside the foster carer – transparent
  • Direct work every 2 weeks and support in-between for the foster carer to help process and manage along the way
  • How SSW are informed is important – aware of the work and the possible challenges – can’t be a disconnect between the therapeutic work and the SSW – one service, team around the child
  • Life story work is not therapy
  • Member shared experience – adopted child – lost their sister and poor, nothing added re this time etc
  • Commissioners – do not understand this work, complexities
  • “All about me” – is a book that can be purchased that can go with the child wherever they go – it captures the life journey (Richard Rose – anoffer that is not the full work) – the book can be built up / added to over the years – then an additional “more about me” book
  • Sometimes this is enough for children, and this offers a great passport for children – shorter piece of work
  • Alternative suggestion – creative life story work – “blue cabin” – can design a booklet with own terms and language
  • Member talked of therapeutic needs must be considered and worked through before life story
  • Role of IRO who often is the supporter of this – drives it forward re a commitment to this for children
  • If the IFA is undertaking this – and child leaves or at end of work – all transfers to the LA – however a learning for the agency has been to keep a copy as sometimes due to instability in LA’s was not passed on to the child etc and becomes lost

Additional notes captured...

The decision

  • Can be some difficult decisions for local authorities and providers about which children should receive life story work. (from experience can be funded for children in all placement types)
  • IRO can be the person who triggers the decision - often alongside permanency.
  • Can be much harder with teenagers so usually better to start early.

Contracting

  • High turnover of LA social workers means this just isn’t happening and so if IFA delivers then this often needs to be negotiated.
  • May not be in the contract so will need to be procured separately.
  • Sometimes a worker’s commitment is to the child and need to continue if the child moves. Some local authorities support this, and some don’t. Sometimes physical location prevents the consistent approach, and so professional handover is key and recognising the need for this overlap.
  • A view that the specialism isn’t always recognised by those commissioning the service. It can be viewed as a simple piece of work.
  • Needs specialist trained clinicians to deliver the work. Sometimes untrained people attempt to do it and can do more harm.
  • A need-to-know which children will benefit and when/how/if to start the work.
  • Therapeutic life story work isn’t therapy. Newly qualified social workers can think it is.
  • Current view from LAs is that it’s about pulling together the information and sharing it - when it’s so much more. There needs to be a conversation about expectations.

Preparation

  • Both LAs and IFAs must be very clear about what’s needed before it starts. A need to have access to all relevant information and people. Planning is key.
  • Sometimes LA social worker isn’t very involved as it can be others in the LA that IFAs must link with to agree the expectations and collate the information.
  • The relationship with child is important

Delivery

  • Balanced involvement between supervising social workers and clinician. Both need to be on board and communicate well.
  • Can take 6-12 months or even a little longer as other work may be needed at intervals
  • Duration is dependent on the child and how they manage
  • Communication with LA is very helpful but sometimes that’s not prescriptive and the provider has to be proactive in providing this. A positive relationship with the local authority is important to make this happen.
  • GDPR can be a huge barrier, especially with regards to getting information about people who have been significant in the child’s life.
  • Some LAs have been looking at virtual ways of capturing and holding information in a way that if a child transfers to another provider, work can be continued.
  • Children with additional needs will need more support - can take longer to go through the life story due to communication needs.

Supervision and Support

  • Carers will need to know some of the information. Some of this is traumatic and it can have emotional impact and so scaffolding around the carer/team may need to be strengthened.
  • After direct work (usually by a trained clinician) there needs to be good discussions with carers before and after sessions.
  • Training can be costly and time consuming.
  • IFA may need to commission some external clinician supervision for staff and carers.
  • Member kindly shared the costings charged to the LA, where charged as sessions. For clarity I can confirm our standard life story package is 10 sessions including 2 with a child. These are charged at 10 sessions of therapy time including 2 sessions with the child and a therapist to go through the book. The 8 sessions are for collating information and putting the book together. The therapy rate can range from £150-£200 per session. Our therapeutic placements include life story work as part of the package and agreed at the time of placement negotiation.