Challenging Professional Expectations of Dads and Male Carers

“How’s your father? ” • Mandela’s tribe understood an inherent value of fathers. They

“Has your experience as a father engaging with services improved? “Absolutely not”

1 st Challenge: • Focus upon the child and their needs.

2 nd Challenge: • Seeing dads and male carers as more than a problem

3 rd Challenge • The need for increased professional confidence to speak and work

1 st solution idea: • To focus upon the child and their needs

2 nd solution idea: • To see dads and male carers as more than

The Good Enough Parenting List: • offer positive role model • set boundaries •

3 rd solution idea • To gain professional confidence to speak and work with

Reflection questions: • What can I do? • How can I engage dads and

Higher professional expectations will see: • Less justification of fathers and wider acceptance •

Slides: 12

Download presentation

Challenging Professional Expectations of Dads and Male Carers By Peter Barras Senior Parenting Advisor, Central Bedfordshire Council

“How’s your father? ” • Mandela’s tribe understood an inherent value of fathers. They hold a weight and a significant for their community and culture. • However, I find my experience leads me to believe that within services for families children and young people, professionals seem to hold a low expectation for dads and male carers. (photo: Wikipedia)

“Has your experience as a father engaging with services improved? “Absolutely not”

1 st Challenge: • Focus upon the child and their needs.

2 nd Challenge: • Seeing dads and male carers as more than a problem to figure out or an optional extra.

3 rd Challenge • The need for increased professional confidence to speak and work with dads and male carers.

1 st solution idea: • To focus upon the child and their needs

2 nd solution idea: • To see dads and male carers as more than a problem to figure out or an optional extra. (photo: http: //www. thewildvoice. org)

The Good Enough Parenting List: • offer positive role model • set boundaries • offer examples for resolving conflict in an amicable way • provide warmth, concern and support • seen by children to be in charge • consistent • able to respond to their children adequately • give reasons for rules • help young people to understand his/her parent’s perspective • negotiate and discuss, rather than laying down the law • engage in open communication and involve their children in decisions

3 rd solution idea • To gain professional confidence to speak and work with dads and male carers. (photo: http: //www. thyblackman. com

Reflection questions: • What can I do? • How can I engage dads and male carers better? • What can my team and service do differently? • What do well? • How can we recognise more fully the whole make-up of a child? • What do I expect of dads and male carers?

Higher professional expectations will see: • Less justification of fathers and wider acceptance • Dads more likely to engage • Increased positive outcomes achieved in the lives of the children and young people we work with