Gurjit Mann and Debbie Southwood

Barnardo’s• We work directly with over 115,000

children, young people and their families every year

• We run 394 projects• 235 projects are working with families

where child sexual abuse is an issue for some

• 25 projects work predominantly in the area of child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviours

First StepYoung People’s

CounsellingServiceDudley

AmazonYoung People’s

Counselling Service

Birmingham

SOFAHServices

organised For Families

Affected by HIV/AIDS

Birmingham SpaceFor children and

young people abused through

sexual exploitation

AMAZONCounselling and

support services for vulnerable children, young people and

their families

SolihullCounselling

Service for young people 5 – 13 who

are victims of abuse

Amazon Service Users

Amazon provided counselling in the Birmingham, Dudley and Solihull to 266 individuals last year.

• 17% were male, 83% female• 39% from ethnic minority backgrounds

• Ages: 22% U 10 40% 10-15 26% 16-21 12% Parents/carers

Amazon Service Users

• 10% on CPR• 11% Looked After• 6% with special needs • Referrals: 32% Self/family

30% Social Workers14% Health/CAMHS11% Voluntary Orgs8% Schools 5% YOS/Police/Other

Our Main Outcomes Be Healthy Stay Safe

Introduction and Initial Assessment

• The first meeting provides information about the service to the service user, including a range of policies and procedures that support the work

• The counsellor also completes an initial assessment that explores with the service user the nature of their circumstances and their expectations of counselling

• The service user has an informed choice about whether they wish to take up counselling at this time

The work

• The counsellor usually provides one session per week for each service user

• Amazon offers a variety of therapeutic approaches within a person centred philosophy – tailored to meet the individual needs of each service user using a range of techniques

• The work of the counsellor also includes liaising with social workers, teachers, health professionals, and other supporting agencies, and may involve participation in safeguarding/ professionals meetings.

Reviews and Closure

• Reviews of the work occur at regular intervals, 6-12 sessions, as agreed at the planning stage of the work

• Evaluation is built in to the review and closure process and may involve an Outcome Monitoring evaluation process and feedback from relevant others

• The closure of the case is planned through the reviewing system, or in consultation with the counsellor

Expert of their own story

•What is in the past•What is in the here and now•Moving forward

What is in the past• Importance of the initial

assessment• What went wrong

• Themes: attachment issues, poverty and debt, poor communication, trauma, multiple abuse

What is in the here and now

• Guilt• Feelings• Context/environment• Their own experiences

• Themes: exploring inner world and redefining, identifying strengths and coping mechanisms, identifying external factors that can be influenced

Moving forward

• Strengths and coping mechanisms - building self esteem and confidence

• Changing behaviours – homework• Working with others to support changes

and prevent further abuse – family work

Anita’s story• Anita is a 15 year old girl of South Asian origin who

was raped at the age of 13. She is currently in residential care, the only Asian young person in the unit

• She is the eldest of two children and parents are busy running a paper shop/off license, working long hours

• Both children were raised by elderly Jehovah witness neighbours. There has been very little contact with the extended family

• Parents used gold jewelry as a reward and confiscated it as a form of punishment. Anita had gone missing on two occasions but returned each time saying she had been living with a group of Eastern Europeans where she claims to have had unprotected sex, as well as abused drugs and alcohol.

What is in the past

• Rape• Parents being very busy• Isolation from extended family• Communication difficulties• Confusion about identity

What is in the here and now

• In residential care• Confused about her identity• High levels of anxiety• Anger• Risky sexual behaviour• Going missing• Abusing alcohol and drugs• Low self esteem• Feels isolated and rejected• Communication difficulties

Moving forward• Agreement to engage in counselling –

completed introductory meeting and initial assessment and agreement meeting

• Therapeutic relationship building – trust building exercises

• Self esteem work – integral throughout – work on self respect/protection/recognition of exploitation

• Identity – based on own frame of reference• Effective communication – expression without

getting angry• Anger relationships – recognise the source of

anger

Exercise

*

Taylor Family

Taylor Family

Kirsty, 15

Laura, 13

Jason, 4

Mum – Jean, 42

Dad – Martin, 41

Jim. 14

The past

The past:Kirsty raped on the way to school when

13 – post traumatic stress disorder and self harming

Communication difficultiesBoth parents depressed and on

medicationKirsty, Jim and Laura depressedFavouritism to some children

Taylor Family

Kirsty, 15

Laura, 13

Jason, 4

Mum – Jean, 42

Dad – Martin, 41

Jim, 14

Here and Now

Kirsty – self harming, not focusing on school work, pent up anger often focused on her father, not talking to sister since abuse (2 years)

Family – no routines, debts, poverty, poor communication, Jim aged 14 with undiagnosed Aspergers and self harming, parents relationship had broken down, mum about to leave, overcompensating Kirsty, sibling issues

Moving forwardKirsty (15 years)• learning to communicate • exploration of her situation • recognition of what needed to change eg anger

towards father and sister, control of motherLaura (13 years)• Recognising impact on her of family situation• Changing her behaviour to brother Jason (4)Mum • Recognising family dynamics and her contribution• Exploring her relationship with husband and

children

Moving forward – cont.

Dad• To explore situation and avoid him leaving the family• His contribution to change – being a Dad• Blame and shame• Relationship difficulties with children especially JimJim (14)• Communication needs• Recognition of his condition Jason (4)• His place within the familyFamily• To function as a family• Use of family meeting• Meet over meals

Feedback

At the final review, Jean said:

Everyone is talking a lot more. There is more laughter. We are going out as a family. The children are more helpful. We are talking more and shouting less. All due to counselling. Kirsty and Laura are now talking, after not doing so for a couple of years. Martin and Jim are getting on better. Kirsty is more confident, Martin is making more of a effort with his children and is less angry and grumpy. Martin and I are closer, and we feel much closer to the children”.

A family that can cope