Caring Dads

Caring dads is an international, evidence-based group programme for fathers that works towards preventing the reoccurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment. Caring Dads is devoted to ensuring the safety and well-being of some of our communities’ most vulnerable children through working with fathers (including biological, step, and common-law) who have been abusive, neglectful, or violent in their families or who are deemed to be at high-risk for these behaviours.

Evidence

An evaluation of the Caring Dads Programme (NSPCC, 2016) has shown that fathers and partners reported fewer incidents of domestic abuse after completing the Caring Dads programme. Risks to children reduced because fathers generally found being a parent less stressful and interacted better with their children after they had attended the programme. There were pre to post group reductions in parenting stress and level of hostility, indifference, and rejection as reported by fathers and reductions in domestic violence victimisation, depression, and anxiety as reported by mothers. Changes in identified domains were found to persist over six months and were well in excess of changes made by comparison group fathers over a similar time period.

The programme

The Caring Dads group programme runs for two hours, one evening per week for 17 weeks. This group offers a unique opportunity for up to 12 men to connect as fathers.

The programme will support fathers to:

• Develop skills to cope in healthy ways with frustrating situations.

• Understand how different fathering strategies and choices affect children.

• Increase their awareness of controlling, abusive and neglectful attitudes, and behaviours.

• Be provided with strategies to strengthen the father child relationship.

Eligibility

This programme is designed to meet the needs of fathers who have been identified as abusive in their families, it is not designed for fathers needing more general parenting support. Examples of eligible fathers include:

• Fathers who have physically or emotionally abused their children

• Fathers who are at risk of maltreating their children

• Fathers who have an over-bearing, controlling style of interaction with their child

• Fathers who have been abusive towards the child’s mother, including those who have separated but continue to be in frequent hostile conflict.

• Fathers who have abandoned one or more children and moved onto another family and are at risk of abusing or abandoning other children.

The fathers must have regular supervised or unsupervised contact with at least one of their children (0-16). A clinical intake interview will be completed following referral to determine suitability.

Exclusion criteria

• Men are not eligible if a primary concern in perpetration of child sexual abuse

• Significant language or literacy issues

• Fathers needing general parenting support but are at low risk of abuse and have strong positive connections with their child and respectful cooperative relationships with the child’s mother.

• Significant alcohol and/or substance misuse. Those who are actively engaged in treatment or can maintain abstinence on the day of the group may be considered appropriate.

• Fathers who are in the midst of a family court dispute over custody of their children, where there may be imminent loss of contact.

Referrals

 Referrals are accepted from professionals. Self-referrals are also accepted; however, it is a requirement that another agency is involved and are willing to remain involved for the duration of the programme.

 We accept referrals from:

• Social workers

• Probation

• CAFCASS

• Solicitors

• Domestic Abuse Services

• Mental Health Services

• Self-referrals

Time and venue

• Online or in-person at Canon Lodge, Canon Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1SW

• Date and time tbc

Programme cost

The group programme costs £1500, this covers all aspects of the programme including an intake assessment, 16x 2-hour group sessions, 1x individual session with the referring professional, and a final report.

If the programme is delivered individually, the cost will be £2250, this covers all aspects of the programme including an intake assessment, 16x 1-hour sessions, 1x individual session with the referring professional, and a final report.

How to make a referral

If you would like to discuss a possible referral, please contact Mandi Rees on 01823 351785 or email us at Caringdads@orchardhousefac.co.uk.