Feedback from Fathers Direct London Roundtable 3 October 2007
Summary of evaluation forms
Overall evaluation
94% excellent/very good
6% good
0% fair/poor
Evaluation of speakers
100% excellent/very good
Evaluation of specific sessions
Policy & Legislation: 100% very useful/useful
Mapping our Services: 94%
Why Fathers Matter: 100%
The Impact of Services: 100%
Introduction to Consultation: 87%
Designing a consultation: 85%
Planning your next steps: 100%
What did you learn on the course that you can use in your work?
- How much we leave fathers out
- Looking at what we are doing and showcasing good practice
- Get all parties involved
- Policy & legislation and why fathers matter, reminded why we have to make the case for involving fathers
- Good evidence base and where to find it. An economic evaluation of savings to services
- Research signposting for evidence gathering a range of experience shared
- Highlighting the impact on children if dads are not engaged
- The need to engage mums to support the engagements of dads
- Sharing of existing practice by course attendees was very beneficial in helping to shape future approaches to involving fathers more in the services provided
- To develop current services rather than necessarily create a specialist ‘fathers group’ type approach. That dads know less about child development, but want to know
- Inclusive service for dads and male carers. Importance of references to support why to work with dads. Usefulness of using mums to work with dads
- Different approaches anduse of the word ‘engagement’ somehow a much more positive spin than the oft used ‘how do we involve dads’
- Really good to hear from colleagues in other boroughs. Useful synopsis of research, will help develop our strategy
- Examples of practice from the other participants
- Planning next steps
- Some pieces of research. Pressures on Childrens Centre Managers and staff coping with change
- Research toolkit in impact of fathers on child
- Research. Strategies to make fathers workers work in the teams.
How can we make this workshop more useful?
- Do it as often as you can
- Examples and more good practice
- A session for children services – trust commissions may help more fathers up the agenda
- Be more specific with the target audience
- More examples of good practice
- Extend the number of participants across a local area. Bring in more examples of useful good practice
- Less expensive
- Involvement/delivery of aspects of the input by fathers groups or fathers who have engaged with groups and are happy to share experiences.
What actions do you plan to take as a result of this workshop?
- Curriculum sharing evening for Dads. Adult/child interaction training for fathers
- Plan to ensure the implementation of the standards for the involvement of mothers, fathers and carers
- Make sure that the strategy for involving fathers is workable and effective
- Write up for London top brief. Review what work is happening across London with
teen dads, write TUP and link to raising aspirations. Will use the website - To prioritise dads a lot higher and thus plan time to develop projects
- More proactive in involving fathers directly. Develop strategy for improving involvement with all parties
- Review my services, challenge borough referral forms
- Look into ‘baby express’ programme
- Robust linkage from midwifery services into other services for dads. Staff training
- More emphasis on dads in parenting plan
- To organise ‘working with men’ training. To link with other initiatives to ensure they know about us
- Lots. I feel passionate about this subject. Fathers charter/joint commissioning proposal/training for staff
- Share the research base with the Parenting Commissioner and continue to be pro-active in engaging young fathers
- Targeted consultations with fathers
- More fathers workers. Keeping fathers high on agenda.
What other support do you need from Fathers Direct?
- Use of website. Would like to do a piece of work on co-parenting at some stage. I have co-parented for 9 years and would like to be able to pass on the knowledge of how to best navigate the winding road
- May be interested in some multi-agency training with front line staff
- Follow up session. Ongoing support and guidance through web site
- Research evidence. Information on best practice
- Not sure what next, but know where to find you
- Ongoing supervision/further training
- Support with an issue, right to information, what is the right of a young father-to-be to receive information about his unborn child
- Focus groups that professionals can attend.