WomenCentre, Halifax, May 2010

Women at the Centre

© Simon Duffy. Rights Reserved. The author must be cited if images or slides are used

Part One: Medea

Confronting tragedy

Tracey & Baby Peter

• Ambiguity of our attitude - blame/sympathy

• Abuse-neglect fostering abuse-neglect

• The things women do for love of men

Bethany• Bethany is in her mid 30’s and has a moderate

learning disability. She was referred by her 8 year old daughter’s social worker. Bethany’s boyfriend was a registered sex offender and she was in danger of losing her daughter into the care of the local authority.

• WomenCentre are working with Bethany to support her parenting, help her to understand the risk that her boyfriend posed to herself and her daughter and to build her self confidence and self esteem. Bethany has ended the relationship with her boyfriend.

• Bethany would like to meet other women who have a learning disability and who are mothers.

Marie• Marie was sexually abused by her stepfather and spent

time in and out of local authority care as a young child.

• Marie self harms significantly. She has complex health problems: diabetes, hep c , depression, mood disorders, drink induced psychosis.

• Marie’s own two children are in care.

• Marie is in a deeply abusive relationship. Her partner is physically abusive and his friends to pay him to have sex with Marie.

• Marie has committed benefit fraud and has a community sentence which she struggles to comply with because of her chaotic lifestyle.

• Marie is working with the Evolve project .

Sarah

• Same trajectory as Tracey

• Damaging relationship

• But she made different choices, and got different help

The Bigger Picture

• Women leaving prison 36 times more likely to commit suicide

• 105% increase in women going to prison

• Each year it is estimated that more than 17,700 children are separated from their mother by imprisonment. Just 5% of women prisoners’ children remain in their own home once their mother has been sentenced.

Part Two: AriadneHelping women face their demons

Managing a serious health condition 62%

Finding a safer place to live 29%

Living with childhood abuse 49%

Trying to improve their education 38%

Recent experience of domestic violence 76%

Fractured family 42%

Children have experienced abuse 40%

Living with significant levels of mental illness 56%

History of drug or alcohol misuse 49%

Victim of crime 40%

Perpetrator of crimes 38%

Money problems 49%

Purpose

•Safeguarding women, as individuals

•Safeguarding women as the foundation for families (including sons, husbands, fathers)

•Being there for women, in all circumstances

•Sticking with women, through thick and thin

Difference

•Building a community through identity

•Offering an holistic focus, because identity does not come through ‘a specialism’

•Avoiding the “privileged irresponsibility” of high status professional roles

•But, developing a new kind of professionalism

The Model

1.Place of safety - a community of local women

2.Human touch - a strong personal relationship

3.Positive approach - pragmatic & positive

4.Holisitic - every woman a one-stop shop

Label Primary Focus Real Issue

Criminal behaviour Housing Self-esteem

Drug uses Debt problems Mothering skills

Poor mother Health problems Managing relationships

Victim of domestic violence Dentist Lack of support or guidance

Victim of childhood abuse Advocacy with criminal justice system

Overcoming trauma in the past - abuse, violence, tragedy

Misuses Alcohol Benefit problems Vulnerability and bullying

Self-harms Rent problems On-going trauma - loss of children,

Violent

Chronic Health Condition

Mentally ill

Findings

•100% of women say life has improved since working with WomenCentre, 100% say WomenCentre helped

•Typical time in intensive case work - over 1 year

•Even greater satisfaction increases in key areas

•45 people in sample

Quotes

• “I was a shadow of myself over 12 months ago, very depressed, anxiety, panic attacks. Since i have been with Evolve my confidence has grown, ive become a better person and mother. I just wish I hadn’t committed a crime to get the support i have received. Not only has she helped me but has become a very good friend.”

• “The WC is a fantastic place, and it has made a big difference to me.”

• “Helped me with confidence, a good place to meet other women when you are on your own.”

• “I like Evolve, Evolve are brilliant. If I hadn’t have had their support I would be in prison”

• “I have contacted WC by phone and they have always got back to me whatever I have been doing with support I need. Julie has been a good luck charm and has always supported me.”

• Stickability - no passing the buck, no triage, no segmentation

• Neo-professionalism - trained, committed, staff team

• Problem-focused, but relationship building

• Personalisation - focusing on all the available real wealth in the person’s life, including other professionals

• Positive - finding the key that’s right for that person

• Pragmatic - adapting around what works

• Coherent process - faith in the possibility of renewal

Success Factors

Cost No. PA Cost PP

Management £100,000

Premises £150,000

Level 1 £10,000 13520 £0.74

Level 2 £100,000 1000 £100

Level 3 £330,000 500 £660

Level 3.5 £400,000 115 £3,478.26

Level 4 £10,000 5000 £2

Level 5 £0 100 £0

Total £1,100,000

Community

• A real community - on each day it includes 100 women - paid, unpaid, women working - but over a year 1,000s of women

• Transformational leadership style - forgiving, supportive, mobile - modelling the support to women

• Creative and flexible - women weaving solutions

Prisoner >£40,000

Child in care <£300,000

In patient mental health care >£100,000

Domestic Violence >£29,000

Part Three: Penelope

Finding some better ways forward

History

• Founded by the local women, part of the Women’s movement

• Initial focus on health

• Slight shift of focus in 1995 - subsequent developments

• Lots of initiatives, but a central and coherent model

Local Government 13

Local NHS 5

Regional or Sub-Regional 7

Charities 13

Central Government 3

Total 41

Local Reform

• Problem of ‘ownership’ and ‘identity’ the tension between holistic and silo-based approaches

• Need to celebrate and support real community developments

• Hope to build a new relationship equality & respect

• Supporting innovation and exploration

Questions

• Can we reduce chaos in funding, the game-playing?

• Can we create some individual budgets for levels 3 and 3.5?

• Can we create a culture of innovation and sharing?

• Can we respect and support existing leadership?

• Can we unlock resources from more traditional services?

• What will Total Place mean in Calderdale & Kirklees?

National Reform

•Developing a new account of localism

•Tax-benefit reforms - better incentives and secure entitlements

•Service reform - shift in power, accountability and innovation

•Stronger citizens, families and communities

Contact Details

Simon DuffyCentre for Welfare ReformThe Quadrant, 99 Parkway Avenue, Parkway Business ParkSheffield, S9 4WGT +44 114 251 1790M +44 7729 7729 41admin@centreforwelfarereform.orgwww.centreforwelfarereform.org