Working with the whole family to support long term change

One of RISE’s strengths is that it can work with a whole family – parents and children - to support safer homes and foster intergenerational change.

RISE Clinician Fran Bishop works predominately with young people in Motueka. As part of her mahi she sometimes works separately with different members of the same family who connect with RISE.

“RISE really does feel like an inclusive and welcoming place where people want to come.”

RISE Clinicians are adept at understanding what a family needs and realise that for change to happen sometimes the whole family unit might need help and support.

Fran and her colleagues might start working with a parent who has a good experience at RISE. They then want their children to get the same support and help they have enjoyed.

“We might be supporting a parent and as part of their session they might be struggling with a child’s behaviour. From that we can say, ‘We actually support children as well. This is what we do. Is that something you think might help your child?’.”

“So, then we are supporting the children and the parents.”

Alternatively a child or young person might be the first family member referred to RISE, and through talking with the young person the Clinician recognises their parent might want some support.

In another scenario a parent might be doing a course, and they might refer their partner to RISE.

“The parent might say – actually I think my husband or wife would benefit from this can they be involved? So suddenly they are all involved.

“It’s going to have a really positive impact on the family.”

Fran and her RISE colleagues will have worked with every member of one whānau.

Fran first started working with the mum who was completing a Women’s Education Programme. After the woman split from her partner, who was the father of her children, he was referred to RISE. The father completed the Non-Violence Programme and the Dad’s Programme. While the mother completed a Safety Programme.

Fran has worked with two of their children and will start working with a third.

“The whole family has been engaged with us at some time or another and still are.”

This shows RISE is inclusive, welcoming and is a place where people want to come, Fran says. It also demonstrates that RISE is open to supporting the whole family and its services are for everyone.

“It’s highlighting that we do have that whole family approach.”

The fact entire whānau are open to working with RISE shows RISE is inclusive, welcoming and is a place where people want to come, Fran says. Sometime RISE Clinicians support whole families to help foster intergenerational change.

Clinician Fran Bishop says RISE Clinicians are adept at understanding what a family needs and realise that for change to happen sometimes the whole family unit might need help and support.

Fran says RISE doesn’t solely work with people who use violence. It also works with people who experience it and their children.

“If you’ve been impacted by family violence we are here to help – whatever you need.

“We are supportive and try to educate the whole family.”

Fran came to RISE after working as a Statutory Social Worker in England in the Care and Protection field. She worked in emergency situations and her job was to make sure children were safe.

This involved doing assessments in homes, and devising a plan to support the whānau, often through referring to other support services.

It was work she enjoyed, but it was very different from her mahi at RISE. There wasn’t the time to work therapeutically with a family to support long term positive change, she feels her role at RISE supports this impactful mahi.

There wasn’t the time to make real change and social workers were not viewed positively.

“It felt like we were just putting out fires.”

That work helped her learn how to engage positively with people through communication skills as well as how to identify their strengths and support needs. 

She enjoys her work with RISE because there is more time to help make real change and turnaround outcomes for families.

“Families want to work with us at RISE and that’s because we are open and non-judgmental. We’re given the time with them and have the skills and resources to help them.”

She enjoys working with children and ensuring they are at ease and have an enjoyable time with her.

“I never want a child to feel nervous to come.”

Her young clients are referred to her by parents, schools and the court. Sessions are tailored to their age and cover topics such as emotions and how to manage them, self-esteem, self-care, relationships – power and control.

Older teens may learn about Family Violence and what a healthy relationship looks like.

Fran loves living in New Zealand and enjoys the work life balance living here offers.

“The way of life here is lovely.”