The Scottish Government

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ANNEX 3 SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

1. Below are the questions we would like to focus on in discussing parenting orders. While we appreciate that there will be many differences between local authorities in their approach to POs and their implementation, we have created this schedule in order to collect information as consistently as possible across each LA. It would therefore be appreciated if you could give consideration to the questions presented here in advance of our meeting.

Part 1

2. First of all, we would like to ask you some general questions about how cases where parenting is identified as an issue of concern are dealt with by (your LA). We would like you to consider practice both pre- and post-Parenting Order implementation.

• Thinking of cases you are familiar with, what are the most common reasons for considering parenting intervention on the grounds of
  
  a) the behaviour of the child, and
  b) the welfare of the child
• Typically, how do these cases (behaviour related and welfare related) come to your attention?
• What steps are typically taken to engage families with the intervention? You may find it useful to think of examples of cases you have dealt with in the past to illustrate your answer here.
• POs have been designed to address parents who do not engage with support services. What do you define as non-engagement?
• What steps are typically taken with families when engagement becomes a problem? Again you may find it useful to think of examples from your past experiences.
• Do you have mechanisms in place for recording the level of attendance/non-attendance in relation to parenting services?
• Are there any common characteristics in the cases where engagement is a problem? Characteristics could include those of the individuals targeted, the type of service/support used, the types of problems being addressed, or any other relevant issues you can think of.
• Do you feel that services can adequately deal with families where barriers to engagement may exist, e.g. mental health problems, learning disabilities, addiction issues etc.?
• In the 21 ^st century the notion of what comprises a 'traditional family' is less often reflected in reality. Factors such as divorce, step-parents, fewer extended families ( i.e. an apparent decrease in contact with grandparents etc.) and various forms of parental separation appear increasingly common. Do you feel that child and family services are operate in such a way to deal with such issues? For example:
  
  c) What steps are taken (if any) to engage non-residential parents in any intervention?
  d) Does the capacity exist to deal with siblings who may have disparate needs?
• Pre-Parenting Order legislation, did you have a policy or protocol on when a practitioner should stop trying to intervene with a parent/s? We appreciate that the needs of each family are different, but could you give an example of an instance where engagement was considered to be failing?

Part 2

3. We would now like to ask some questions about parenting orders.

• What would you consider to be the advantages and the disadvantages of the Parenting Orders legislation?
• Given the requirement of parenting orders that all action taken prior to considering an order be evidenced, what impact (if any) has this had on case management procedure?
• So far as we are aware no parenting orders have been applied for in Scotland. Have there been any cases in which serious consideration of a parenting order arose? Why was the order not applied for?
• Based on your previous experiences, do you foresee POs being useful in the future?
• Given the wider GIRFEC agenda, how do you see parenting orders relating to this?
• With regard to the implementation process for parenting orders, using the scale below, how would you rate the information and guidance provided by the Scottish Executive?

Why did you choose this rating?

1 (Very Poor) -------------------------- 5 (Adequate) ------------------------------ 10 (Excellent)

• As part of the implementation process the SE required each LA to conduct an exercise that would 'map out' service provision in their area that could assist in parenting issues. Using the scale below, how useful did you feel this exercise was in your preparation for the implementation of POs?

Why did you choose this rating?

1 (Not useful at all) ------------------- 5 (Useful) -------------------10 (Integral to the process)

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