Family Distance Travelled Record
Wirral’s Early Help Distance Travelled ToolDistance Travelled Tool Record of Results
The distance travelled tool is designed for use with children, young people and their families to gauge how effective the CAF/ TAF process is at reducing the severity of the issues preventing them from achieving their outcomes. It is suggested that tool is used at the end of TAF meetings and the family simply score how serious they feel issues are affecting them as a whole. The scoring scale has four levels; minor, moderate, significant and critical and it uses a simple arithmetic method to score the results. Over time, as issues improve, the score ‘should’ reduce and the family will be able to see evidence of their improvement. When asking the questions focus on the individual who has those issues. For example- if a question relates to mental health and the parent is struggling with this and it is part of the action plan for the family focus on the parental need. However, if a question relates to behaviour and a young person within the household is evidencing anti social behaviour, focus on this child for that question. This is an holistic tool that reflects the needs of the entire family that the TAF relates to.
A Distance Travelled Tool:
Is an ongoing assessment of the difficulties a family is struggling with...
20 questions posed to the family following each TAF meeting- 4 sub headings below with prompt cards;
– 1-Health
– 2-Learning
– 3-Parents and carers
– 4-Family and environment
Higher the score, higher the concern
Each family give a mark based on what the issues are;
Score / Descriptor0 / If you have no family concern in this area
1 / If you have small family concern
2 / Medium family concern
3 / Big family concern
4 / Major family concern
This allows the family to see the issues clearly but also highlights things that are going well.
Each score sheet is individual to each family. Following the scoring they are totalled.
Scores following each TAF should decrease as agencies and support are put in place.
Highest score a family could get is 80 points. Often first meeting is starting the process following the completion of the CAF, some agencies may not have started to work with the family at that point.
Case Studies
Family A
First meeting scored 47 points 10 points at critical/complex within health and learning. Second meeting after support was put in place, no concerns in either significant or critical/ complex, overall score 18 points. TAF closed after third meeting as support was in place and meeting the needs in a coordinated way.
Family B
Showed a huge decrease from 40 points in the critical/complex down to 0 at the second meeting after support was put in place. Case was also closed following the third TAF meeting.
Family C
Scored the same following two meetings. However, this was due to the fact that numbers had moved from critical/complex to moderate but other issues were identified bringing minor concerns to significant, again support was altered accordingly and different agencies were identified thus supporting the different issues as they arose.
Family D
Following the second meeting it was clear that the situation for this family had not improved and concerns had become higher. At the first meeting there were no issues at critical/complex whereas after the second meeting the number had risen to 24.
Distance travelled is not just about evidencing improvement it is about recognising the distance in which ever direction a family may be travelling and ensuring the right support is put in place.
It helps the family identify their own direction of travel. This case was transferred into social care in order to meet the needs of the family as a significant child protection issue arose. This change in direction was as a direct result of information that was disclosed due to the Distance Travelled Tool
Example of Completed Distance Travelled Tool with a case study at the end
The tool is to be used with the parent, carer or guardian. The practitioner gives the carer the flashcards that relate to the questions so that the parent can rate their situation accordingly. The practitioner writes down the number in the correct column (see below) The completed form can either be e mailed to or faxed to 0151 666 4580
Using the prompt cards with the family put the score in the appropriate column which best describes the negative effect each factor is having on them following each meeting.
Score / Descriptor0 / If you have no family concern in this area
1 / If you have small family concern
2 / Medium family concern
3 / Big family concern
4 / Major family concern
FACTOR / Assessment
Date / 1st Review
Date / 2nd Review
Date / 3rd
Review
Date / 4th Review
Date
Health and Wellbeing / 1/05/14 / 1/06/14
Physical Development / 3 / 1
Speech, Language and Communication / 0 / 0
Alcohol and Drugs Misuse / 1 / 0
Emotional and Social Development / 1 / 0
Mental Health / 1 / 0
Identity, Self-Esteem, Self Image / 1 / 1
Self-care skills and Independence / 0 / 0
Good relationships / 1
Learning and Employment
Understanding, Reasoning and Problem Solving / 2 / 0
Participation in Learning, Education and Employment / 2 / 0
Progress and Achievement in Learning / 2 / 1
Work Readiness / 2 / 0
Family relationships
Wider Family Support / 1 / 0
Behaviour / 3 / 0
Family and Social Relationships / 2 / 1
Parenting Skills / 1 / 0
Housing and environment (inc finance)
Housing / 3 / 1
Offending and Anti Social Behaviour / 3 / 0
Finance/Debt / 3 / 1
Budgeting / 3 / 1
TOTAL / 35 / 7
TOTAL / /80 / 35 / 7
Consent Statement
The information collected is used to see how well the TAF meetings are working to improve outcomes for you/your child. The information is monitored by your local team but it is only used to ensure that you/your child receives the most appropriate support.
I understand the information that is recorded on this form and that it will be stored and used for the purpose of providing services to
□ Me
□This infant, child or young person for whom I am a parent
□This infant, child or young person for whom I am a carer
Signed: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Name:……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Date:…………………………………………………………………………………………………