An Evaluation of the Fathers’ Development Work Programme

1. An Evaluation of the Fathers’ Development Work Programme

2. Aim • “To evaluate the effectiveness, including the cost effectiveness, of the Fathers’ Development Worker interventions over the previous 2 year period”

3. Objectives • Review service objectives • Assess service delivery against objectives • Evaluate outcomes of the service for users • Assess children’s development outcomes • Conduct a literature search • Recommend future service developments

4. Other Objectives • Sure Start Objectives: • Improving Social & Emotional Development • Improving Health • Improve Learning • Strengthening Families & Communities

5. Other Objectives • Every Child Matters: • Be Healthy • Stay Safe • Enjoy & Achieve • Make a Positive Contribution • Achieve Economic Well-being

6. Pinehurst & Penhill • Two estates in north Swindon • Population of 10,065 • 630 families • 800 children aged 4 and under • 40% single parent families • 195 births a year • 97% population is white

7. Fathers’ Development Work Programme • Started in January 2003 • Managed by NSPCC under SLA • Development Worker to October 2004 • Varied programme • Fathers’ Time • Saturdays for Dads • One-to-one counselling sessions • Activities – Legoland, BBQ • Courses - assertiveness • Sure Start groups – Ante-natal

8. Methodology • Collation and analysis of reports produced by Development Worker • One-to-one interviews with Sure Start and NSPCC staff • Focus Group – 4 fathers • Individual interviews – 11 fathers • Review of cases notes from counselling sessions with 7 fathers • Literature search of other Sure Start Fathers’ programmes

9. Who benefited? • Families • 40 fathers • 70 children (+ expected babies) • …and their partners and wives • Sure Start criteria • 30 fathers • 55 children • Other childcare professionals

10. Key outcomes - Fathers • Increased involvement with children • Improved parenting skills • Understand children more • Support partners & wives • More confidence and self esteem • Pride • Practical help – e.g. ante natal class • Importance of role of father in family • Socialising / meeting new people

11. Outcomes – Fathers - continued • Mutual support & benefit among fathers • Emotional support from professionals • Building trusting relationships e.g. with childcare professionals • Opportunity to talk about problems & help others with problems • More safety conscious • More “Health aware”

12. Key Outcomes – Children • Social interaction / new friends • Quality time with fathers • See fathers in a different light • Sensory development • Creative development • Social and communication skills • New activities • Father involvement with care & development

13. Outcomes – Children - continued • Reduce risk of abuse or neglect • Safer environment • Practical support with problems • Share life experiences with fathers • Physical development e.g. cycling • Learning through play • Provides children with routine

14. Key Outcomes – Mothers, Wives & Partners • Peace & quiet / Quality time on own • Sharing responsibility for childcare • Help with housework • Great family unity & coherence • Benefit from activities organised by fathers • Gain more confidence • Learn new skills / new job as have time • Improved relationships with partners

15. Key Outcomes – Childcare Professionals • Changed attitudes • Changed practices • More “father aware”

16. Meeting the objectives • Sure Start Objectives: • Improving Social and Emotional Development  • Improving Health  • Improve Learning  • Strengthening Families & Communities  • Every Child Matters: • Be Healthy  • Stay Safe  • Enjoy & Achieve  • Make a Positive Contribution  • Achieve Economic Well-being ?

17. Meeting the objectives • Sure Start Pinehurst & Penhill SLA • Establishment of a task or focus group  • Production of a questionnaire ? • Establishment of one new service for fathers and children  • Increase in the involvement of fathers and fathers-to-be in Family Centre and Sure Start activities  • Evaluation process for work with fathers ?

18. Cost Effectiveness Total programme: • Total cost per father (40 fathers) - £1483 • Average annual cost per father - £659 • Total cost per child (74 children) - £801 • Average annual cost per child - £356 Sure Start criteria: • Cost per father contact 2004 - £111 • Average annual cost per father - £879 • Average annual cost per child - £475

19. Some Issues • Barriers to fathers participating • Perceptions of NSPCC • Little for working fathers • Lack of Development Worker since October 2004 has had negative impact • Management and evaluation between Sure Start and NSPCC needs improving

20. Recommendations • Need full-time Development Worker asap • Sure Start & NSPCC need to review and agree parameters for programme • Planning and evaluation needs to be reviewed • More robust approach to strategic and operational management • Consider targeting specific groups of men • More work to be done on the cost-effectiveness of the programme

21. Conclusion • The Fathers’ Development Work programme appears to have been successful in meeting its main objectives of improving the lives and life-chances of fathers and the children!