Consultation with fathers in CaerphillyCounty regarding the way they feel services meet their specific needs
Completed between June and September 2007
Steve Cluer (Child and Family Worker)
NCH Pontlottyn Family Centre
Fairview Terrace
Pontlottyn
Bargoed
CF81 9RF
Dads Consultation Feedback
Background to consultation:
This consultation was undertaken to gauge the opinions of dads in Caerphilly County Borough Council about how they feel services cater for their specific needs as a father, and what they feel are the main gaps that services need to fill.
Between June and July 2007, 30 dads from across the county were interviewed in depth on a 1-1 basis and asked about their experiences of services, their views on family centres, and their opinions on what the most valuable service would be to meet the needs of a ‘father’ as opposed to a ‘parent’.
To enable a range of professionals to be a part of this process a volunteer accompanied me from other services on each of the interviewing days. I would like to thank Vince Penny of the Bargoed Social Services Team, Lisa Jefferies of the Rhymney Social Services Team, Sue Field from the Health Visitor Team, and Leigh Reynolds from the Right From The Start Project.
The Dads
Of the 30 dads, 8 lived in the lower 3rd of the county, 11 in the middle 3rd and 11 in the top 3rd.
The dads were a range of ages, broken down as follows: 9 were in the 18-27 age range, 10 were in the 28-39 age range and 11 were in the 40+ age range
1 of the dads has 9 children, 2 have 8 children, 1 have 5 children, 2 have 4 children, 10 have 3 children, 7 have 2 children and 8 have just one child.
The children of these 30 dads fall into the following groups:
Age / Unborn / U1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 18+No / 2 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 3 / 5 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 0 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 2 / 3 / 6 / 8 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 7
With 90 children between 30 dads, there is a great deal of fathering experience in the opinions gathered below.
The Questions
All questions are aimed specifically at their experiences as a ‘father’ and not just as a ‘parent’. Some questions do not apply to all participants, and therefore figures do not always add up to 30.
The first question asks how well the dads found services catered for their needs pre-birth. Firstly on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, and 10 being completely. Then followed by a summary of specific comments on what was good, bad, and needed.
Comments:
Good:
Health visitors very helpful.
Good hospital staff at UHW.
Complications with pregnancy – midwife and doctors very supportive.
Good support from hospital.
Very good local and involved midwife.
Most things pretty good – fairly involved.
Hospital good at involving and informing dad. (2)
Health visitor involved dad just as much as mum.
Doctor very good.
Some encouragement from health visitor.
Always felt involved. (2)
Family centre made an effort to involve me.
Bad:
Nobody asked how I was.
Midwife ignored me.(3)
Poor anti-natal classes.
Services focused on mum not dad.(3)
Timings of services to not suit working dads. (3)
Told to leave during labour and just after birth because visiting hours were over. Had to push to be involved in cutting of the cord.
Not enough paternity leave.
Health visitor appointments hard to attend – evenings would be better.
Not encouraged to go to anti-natal classes.
Difficult to get time off work for anti-natal classes.
No real services advertised.
Got dirty looks at anti-natal class when asked a question.
Hospital appointments not at convenient times for working dads.
Felt uninvolved with hospitals and midwife.
Needed:
Dads needs to be understood.
Ways to involve fathers more in the pregnancy.
Flexible timings for appointments. (3)
An acceptance from health professionals that although mum’s had the physical changes, fathers are just as important and have the same worries, plus the worry of their partner’s health.
Equality and to be able to stay at the hospital with partner.
Informal groups and father friendly baby clinics.
More involvement.
Employers to offer flexible work patterns for fathers.
Mums and dads to be treated equally at all times.
Dads to be listened to.
Generally to be involved with everything.
Opportunity to spend time with other fathers that have been through the same issues.
To be kept informed and involved.
Better explanation on medical issues for dad.
More advice for expectant fathers.
The second question asks how well the dads found services catered for their needs as a father to a new baby. Firstly on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, and 10 being completely. Then followed by a summary of specific comments on what was good, bad, and needed.
Comments:
Good:
Health visitors very helpful. (2)
Midwife was very good. (2)
Health visitor good. (4)
Health visitor very father friendly.
Doctor good.
My health visitor was excellent.
Doctor always good when he took the children for vaccinations.
When I lived in England, services were terrible, when I moved to Wales, services improved.
Bad:
Very little support after birth.
General lack of dad specific support. (2)
No consistency in services.
No encouragement to attend appointments.
No effort to involve dads. (3)
When I took kids to clinic, I was asked “Where is mum?” but if mum did, no questions.
Didn’t feel welcome at baby clinics – got funny looks. (2)
Services still ignoring dad. (2)
No encouragement to get involved in medical issues.
Fathers not taken into consideration much.
My partner breast-fed – I was not supported to be involved in this.
Father had to make the effort to be involved.
Lack of services.
Baby clinic very female orientated.
During birth, felt pushed out of things (2)
Services had a very negative attitude towards dad.
When dad gave his opinion to health visitor, he was told it was nothing to do with him.
Felt left out by health visitor.
Timings of appointments not suitable for working dads.(4)
All support from midwives and health visitors focused only on mum and baby.
Needed:
Consistent support and advice for dads on supporting partner.
People who understand dads.
Not to be treated like a second class citizen.
Father services from health visitors.
Advice on bonding with new babies.
Information needed for dads.
More support for dads. (2)
Dads to be listened to.
More information on what it’s like to be a dad.
Information on child development for dads.
Evening groups and appointments.
The third question asks how well the dads found services catered for their needs as a father to a pre-school age child. Firstly on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, and 10 being completely. Then followed by a summary of specific comments on what was good, bad, and needed.
Comments:
Good:
Health visitor ok.
Doctor ok.
Fairly involved in schooling decisions throughout.
Family centre has involved me loads.
Health visitor very good.
One service attempted to involve me in a dads group.
Nursery very good at involving dad.
Was always asked my opinion.
School based services were helpful.
Bad:
Not much support available (3).
Things always clashed with work. (2)
Services did not meet any needs.
I was ignored. (2)
Social services were more harsh towards me than to mums.
No encouragement to attend things at nursery.
A lack of amenities where father feel confident to take young children – most things are aimed at mums.
Only dad at the group.
Other services didn’t involve me.
Lack of support through the terrible twos.
All services during the day – bad for working dads.
Doctors funny with dad when on his own.
Felt left out as a working dad.
Needed:
More advice and input required.
More services for parents and for dads.
Single father provisions – every thing is geared up for mums.(2)
Legislation to allow dads more working flexibility.(3)
More focus on fathers, such as kids and dads swimming lessons or playgroups, and early evening activities for fathers who are in employment.
Support to access when required.
Groups at appropriate times.
More support in the community.
Dads only services (2)
The fourth question asks how well the dads found services catered for their needs as father to a primary school age child. Firstly on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, and 10 being completely. Then followed by a summary of specific comments on what was good, bad, and needed.
Comments:
Good:
School very good, encouraged dad to get involved.
School plays offer evening performances for working parents.
Very involved with the school, very supportive.
Invited to school sports day.
School ok.
Some encouragement for dad to get involved with school.
School good at communicating with dad.
Positive experience with schools and social services.
Felt fairly involved with all school issues.
Bad:
No services available (4)
Had to make an effort to approach services, they didn’t approach me.
Never targeted fathers directly.
School don’t involve me much.
Only contact from school was when children in trouble.
Needed:
Services.(2)
Basic support to access when needed.
More after school things.
Active effort to involve dads.
The fifth question asks how well the dads found services catered for their needs as father to a teenager. Firstly on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not at all, and 10 being completely. Then followed by a summary of specific comments on what was good, bad, and needed.
Comments:
Good:
More local services such as sport that a father can access with his children.
School good at communicating with dad. (2)
Always treated with respect.
More involved than primary school.
Bad:
Not as involved as primary school.
No support offered.
No publicity about family centre services.
No support offered – lots needed. (2)
No services that dad can access.
Felt involved as a single dad, but before my wife left me services were terrible.
Never aware of services unless there are serious problems with the teenager.
Needed:
HELP!
Services to provide preventative work.
Question 6 is to find out how dads perceive family centres and asks ‘When someone mentions a family centre to you, what are the first 3 words that come to mind?
The following words/phrases came up once:
Colourful
Nothing new
Bad
Suspicious
Neglect
Assessment
Breakdown
Take away kids
Interference
Boring
Learning
Druggies
Don’t know
Deprived
Advice
Other families in similar situations
Trouble
Poor Families
These twice:
Waste of time
Abused children
Be careful what you say
No thanks
Unfriendly
3 times:
Bad kids
Good place
Support
4 times:
Babies
Problem families
6 times:
Play group
7 times:
Help
8 times:
Mums
9 times:
Women
Social Services
Question 7 asks the participants to describe the service that they feel could be developed to best meet the needs of fathers, taking into account things like times of day, location, staffing, attendee’s, type of support offered etc. Number in brackets shows how many people thought this was an important factor.
Held in the evening (17)
Weekend (1)
During the day (6)
In a Community Centre (1)
In a comfortable location (3)
Location doesn’t matter (4)
In a School (3)
In a family centre (4)
In a masculine environment (1)
Somewhere local (3)
No Social Services buildings (2)
Doesn’t matter what sex the staff are (10)
Mixed Staff (1)
Staff that understand ‘dad’ issues (4)
Male staff would be better (4)
At least 1 male member of staff (5)
For dads only (8)
For mums and dads (1)
For single dads (1)
Advice service (2)
Medical information about children (2)
Pre-birth group for dads (4)
Support group for new dads (9)
Group that deals with practical issues of being a dad (3)
Transport provided (2)
Informal group (10)
Fun (2)
For dads of teens (2)
Activity based (2)
Interactive (2)
Learn about child development (1)
Age specific (1)
Involving health professionals (5)
Parenting advice (3)
Play based (1)
Formal (1)
Well publicised via health services (2)
Well planned (1)
Friendly and easy going (3)
Able to react to current needs (3)
Listening service (1)
No service needed (1)
Question 8 asks how likely on a scale of 1-10 the participants would be to use or have used the following services. Graphs show the number of dads that chose the given number of the scale.
(a)A service to provide information, advice and support for fathers expecting a new baby for the first time?
(b)A group to enable fathers to get together with their new baby’s and learn from each other in an informal environment?
(c)A group for fathers to talk about the development of their pre-school children, including skills for effective parenting?
(d)A group for fathers to develop skills in managing and communicating with their teenagers, including opportunities to engage in activities with their child?
(e)A general informal support group for fathers of any age children, to get together and support each other with the various issues that being a father can present?
Any other comments:
All comments made related to a need for more serviced that are aimed specifically at dads.
Summary of results:
Q1 –The results from this question indicate quite a wide range of opinions as shown in the graph. 13 of the dads gave a score of 6 or more out of 10 for the way they felt services met their needs pre-birth, and 17 gave a score of 5 or under (Including 6 people that scored only 3). The comments added seem to show that one of the strongest services pre-birth was the hospitals, and dads generally felt quite happy with services in that area. However the main areas that dads felt were not meeting their needs were the midwifery service and a number of general comments about the timings of services and appointments, and that they felt these services were all very much aimed at mums and in various ways excluded dads. The main needs highlighted in this question would be for a general understanding from professionals of the needs of dads and an actual effort made to involve them and ensure they feel valued. Ways to do this would be father friendly appointment times, groups that can support dads and services such as baby clinics to become more inclusive in their nature. There was also a need highlighted for employers to be a little more flexible with dads if they do need to attend appointments.
Q2 - The results from this question again indicate quite a wide range of opinions as shown in the graph. 17 of the dads gave a score of 6 or more out of 10 for the way they felt services met their needs as a father to a new baby, and 13 gave a score of 5 or under (Including 8 people that scored under 3). The comments added seem to show that 8 of the dads interviewed found their health visitor very helpful and father friendly (It is worth noting that 7 of these dads had the same health visitor) There were also positive comments about Doctors and Midwifes, but not to the extent of Health Visitors. The main areas that dads were not meeting their needs very much centred around services ignoring their opinions and thought, feeling left out and unwelcome at for example baby clinic, and a lack of specific services that can meet the needs of dads, in particular from a practical point of view of timings of services. The main needs highlighted were centred around support and information that is aimed at dads more specifically as oppose to general parenting support that is aimed more at mothers.
Q3 - The results from this question again indicate much less of a range of opinions in comparison to the previous 2 questions. 16 of the 25 dads for whom the question was relevant gave a score of between 4 and 6 out of 10 for the way they felt services met their needs as a father to a pre-school age child, with 5 giving a score of 3 or under and 4 scoring over 7. The comments added seem to show that although there are still areas of services that are not meeting the needs of dads fully, there is an improvement when children reach this age. Comments showing good examples included praise for some doctors, health visitors, nursery schools and family centres. Bad examples included a general lack of support available at this age, being ignored as dad and again the timing of things clashing with work. Services the dads felt were most needed were quite broad, groups for dads only, in particular single dads, groups at appropriate times, legislation to allow dads more working flexibility and a general focus on the needs of dads.
Q4 - The results from this question again indicate much less of a range of opinions in comparison to the earlier 2 questions. The question was only relevant for 21 of the 30 dads. Of those that answered the question, 7 gave a score of under 5 out of 10 for the way they felt services met their needs as a father to a primary school age child, with 14 giving a score of 5 or more. The comments added seem to show that as a rule, primary schools seemed to be doing a reasonably good job of involving dads, and the dads felt they took into consideration working hours when planning various things. Comments showing good examples included schools making an effort to involve dad, regular contact from schools, and schools offered evening performances of children’s plays to meet the needs of working parents. Bad examples included a general lack of support services available at this age, and dads having to seek out support as it was not offered. Services the dads felt were most needed were quite general. These included basic support that can be accessed when needed, more after school timings and an active effort to involve dads.