DADS WORK | DADS WORK ABERDEEN SCOTLAND | SINGLE DADS SUPPORT GROUP | DADS AT WORK- OFFICIAL HOME

Dads Work | Dads Work Aberdeen Scotland | Single Dads Support Group.

Dads Work - Dads Work Aberdeen Scotland is self help support group for single dads based in Aberdeen, Scotland.

About Dads Work

It has been a long standing problem for agencies to engage with
fathers. Generally dads are not inclined to engage, which is a gender
issue rather than a preference. Ron Bird is in the relatively unusual
position of being a Community Learning and Development worker working
for social work. He started a dads group eight years ago and partnered a
dads group in another part of the city that was under the community
learning auspices. This partnership led to a successful multi agency
funding application being submitted to Learning Connections. For the
next 3 years 'Challenge Dad' successfully engaged with dads on a city
wide basis. When the funding finished an alternative source was found
but the criteria was too restrictive this led to the formation of an
alternative partnership now called 'Dads Work'. A cocktail of funding
and agency input supports the group. Agencies may refer for a variety of
reasons.

The Partnership with Richmondhill;

The Dad’s Work groups follows on from the success of the “Challenge
Dad” programme and has now developed as a flexible groupwork model
that responds to the identified needs of both the individual men
attending and the needs of the group. This model of groupwork involves
a multi-agency team delivering an activity based programme which is able
to provide both practical learning experiences and the emotional and
social supports needed by the Dads attending. Many of the Dads referred
to the group have had previous life experiences which have compromised
their ability to parent. The Dads Work programme aims to build
confidence, develop parenting skills, enhance the quality of care Dads
offer their children, and help the men attending into education or
employment if this is required.

There are currently two groups running that are jointly delivered by
ACC and Richmondhill. The following gives an outline of the Cooking
Group and Parenting Groups that are currently running.

Cooking Group;

The group meets on Tuesdays between 12 and 2PM. Transport has been
provided as this was found to be a valuable means of engaging with the
men attending and demonstrated the commitment of the Group facilitators.
This can involve the facilitators regularly phoning or texting the
participants to ensure their attendance. This method of ensuring the
men attend has been found to be necessary as this is a difficult group
to engage with who also lack the confidence to attend groups without
support.

The group is now run at Tillydrone Family Centre and can accommodate a number of
men. The focus of the group is practical cooking skills and building a
repertoire of recepies to use at home. The group is funded via NHS
healthy eating initiatives and is also supported by a worker from the
National Childbirth Trust (NCT). A creche is provided and the men
attending are expected to talk about and share the dishes they prepare.
The facilitators have found that using an activity based session has
enabled them to quickly build relationships with those attending. They
also find that the men are more able to discuss difficult topics when
taking part in an activity within this informal setting.


Friday Group - Parenting;

The group meets between 9am and 12.30pm and are based at Primrosehill
Family Centre. The men attending and their children are collected in
the same way as the above Cooking Group. Again, creche is provided.
This group is jointly funded by ACC, NHS, and Fairer Scotland.
Until the arrival of Mel Gregory from NCT, the facilitators had
delivered courses used by Family Learning - 'I'm a Parent Get Me Out Of
Here' and Confidence and Assertiveness Building. Although useful, the
facilitators found them to be a bit limiting and after the first
delivery, too sterile. The introduction of the worker from NCT has had a
significant, positive impact on the group. The programme has also been
supported by volunteers who have brought additional expertise and
knowledge.

The structure of the group is such that input from the NCT worker is
then followed by activity based learning and discussion which focuses on
child development; parenting skills; confidence building; and life
skills. Every fourth week the group is activity based around physical
health and includes football, golf or a visit to the gym. Each session
is ended by the group members and their children eating together with
the food provided by Primrosehill.

The success of the Dads Work programme is difficult to quantify but
many of the men attending the groups have gone on to take a more active,
positive role in the care of their children. This can be evidenced via
the decisions and planning found within Child Protection Case
Conferences, Looked After Children Reviews and Family Centre Reviews.
There is also evidence of those attending make an easier transition into
the workplace or education due to the support of the group facilitators.
In terms of the longer term outcomes of improving the quality of care
of the children whose father’s use the group, this is difficult to
evidence at this stage and efforts will be made to ensure that more
robust outcome measure are put in place over the next 12 months.

More information about "Dads Work" will be added shortly.

If you would like further information on this group and it's activities or you think you may be able to help in some way please contact; ronbird@dadswork.org.uk

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