Children and Young People’s Services (CYPS) involvement with family A, comprising of young person B aged 8 and Mum C, began during Mum’s pregnancy in 2017. Support was provided to Mum throughout her pregnancy, and B was subject to Child Protection planning. Shortly after B’s birth in 2017, she became subject to an Interim Care Order, The family were supported through mother and baby foster placements and supported accommodation during this time. CYPS involvement from this period concluded in May 2018 when the Supervision Order ended, with the closing summary noting that Mum and her partner were supported by their families and able to provide safe and consistent care for B.

Between 2018 and 2023, there were several referrals that did not result in ongoing Social Care involvement, including incidents reported by the Police and neighbour-related concerns. The family received support from Early Help services during this time. In April 2023, following reports of B witnessing distressing adult behaviour at home, a Social Work Assessment was completed, and the case was subsequently stepped down to Early Help in June 2023. Further concerns in late 2023 and 2024, including disclosures from B and school reports, led to a combination of Section 47 investigations and ongoing Child in Need planning. These interventions included safety planning at school and support for positive parenting at home. The family was closed to Social Care in November 2024 but re-referred in June 2025 following concerns captured on school CCTV of physical restraint.

Since this time, Mum C has engaged positively with CYPS, Stronger Families and a Family Support Practitioner to support her relationship with B, with ongoing monitoring and reviews through Child in Need meetings.

Verbal and physical conflict and episodes of running away.

Threats to harm to others from young person when the young person was dysregulated.  

Concerns with Mums response to “B’s” emotional dysregulation, which could result in restraining and physically chastising B in order to remain safe, out of desperation.

Behavioural Pattern assessed regarding referral reasons

Young persons experiences situations such as last-minute changes, leaving mum, unexpected visitors in home or being told she cannot do something but not understanding why. These all resulted in young person feeling unsafe or misunderstood

Due to busyness of life, sometimes Mum would not notice this or would struggle to understand her

To try to get heard the young person would escalate (shouting, kicking, biting)

Mum would react impulsively and out of desperation would try to use every technique / strategy to try regulating her the best that she could but at these times Mum may not have always been regulated herself which would impact the delivery and experience of this for them both as a family.

When things were not working Mum would sometimes withdraw or get frustrated and try to physically restrain young person.

Young person would resist this as they were also dysregulated and they could both end up hurt and exhausted.

In an early session a theme was shared with the family to support them with understanding what was happening in their family… “B, do you remember when you make a bracelet with all your favourite beads? You line them up, one by one, and it starts to look really special. But sometimes — just when you're nearly finished, you ask mum to help you tie it but sometimes the string slips and some beads roll away. That can feel so frustrating! And other times, the whole bracelet might fall apart, and it feels like all your hard work is gone. A bit like when we have big emotions spill out and then when something big happens again, it can feel extra hard — because you've been trying so hard for it not to. Sometimes, you can take a deep breath and manage those big emotions, and other times it can feel like the bracelet breaks and all the beads — those big feelings — spill everywhere. That can feel really tough for both of you. For Mum, it can be hard to know when “B” wants help and when she wants to do things on her own. Sometimes “B” can tie the knot just fine, and other times the thread slips and things come undone again. But here's the good thing — your beads aren't lost. You still have them all — all the care, fun, and effort you put in. You just need a moment to pick them up and start again. And every time you do, you get better at keeping them together. and that's where with our work the more we practise ways of managing those little spills the more you'll both learn how to fix it together. And each time, your bracelet — and your teamwork — gets stronger".

Therefore, following this understanding of the family, the next phase was focused on introducing skills to support with this pattern, the risk factors and the referral reasons.

Zones of regulation to support with emotional literacy (body mapping), emotion regulation (grounding, mindfulness) and a shared language of emotions.

Invisible string to support with transitions which were a particular trigger for the behavioural pattern

Reward Charts

Use of role play, games, scenarios, nonverbal communication, creative arts. Alongside coaching and support from the therapist building on the skills each week.

Most risks had reduced, so the focus was to embed the skills to support with sustainability of the positive changes that have been made.

A focus on generalisation of skills in different scenarios. These were role played throughout the final generalisation sessions to build confidence and mastery in these skills. Supporting the family to feel prepared for any future stressors.

1. What is your overall experience of the service and your therapist?

Young person– “Great, amazing, helpful”

Mum – “Amazing, couldn’t fault the support from Shannon and we loved our sessions”.

2.   What difference has Stronger Families made to you and your family?

Young person – “Helped me stay calmer and me and mum have changed lots in a good way”

Mum – “Made us a stronger family unit and happier”

3.   What would you say to other young people and their families if they were considering Stronger Families support?

Young person – “Definitely go for it, it’s really good and if you get Shannon you are really lucky”.

Mum – “Go for it, it’s been a massive help and made our family so much stronger. We’ve had lots of professionals and support before but not like this, this is different. I felt listened to and the sessions have been specific for what me and “B” need. Shannon has really understood us and helped us come up with new ways of dealing things and been really understanding”.

4.   What was the most useful part of the intervention?

Young person – “Reward chart, having clear routine and rewards has helped me a lot and invisible string so I’m not so worried leaving mum. I also have learnt ways to stay calm that I didn’t know before. It’s ok to be in red zone, I’m not an angry person, I just need a bit of help to calm down and can do this in different ways”.

Mum – “Invisible string – now no kick off’s when leaving each other and has been huge in helping transitions. Shannon also got us the book and we thought about what would work best for our family and tried lots of different things before we found what works best – we didn’t give up just adapted.”

5.   What would you change or improve about the service?

Young person – “Nothing”

Mum – “Nothing, unless we could have longer”

6.   What is the one thing you are going to remember most from working with us?

Young person – “How nice you are and the fun we’ve had”

Mum – “How much fun we’ve had, the resources we’ve been given, the techniques we now have in our toolbox. Felt heard from the beginning and you have worked with “B”  in an engaging way and adapted to our learning needs. Was good to practise and see what worked for us rather than being told what to do. I struggle to read and write so you helped by bringing visuals or practical things which others have not done before. Even when things have felt silly or uncomfortable we gave them a go and realised how good it is to try practise rather than just talk. Usually “B” will hide away or not engage with professionals but she has engaged in every session of stronger families and I think this is down to how the sessions were done and the relationship we built with you. Can’t thank you enough, you’ve been a superstar and we wish you could stay longer”.

7.   What they had to put into the work in order for it to be helpful to them? –

Mum – “to trust the process and use the skills when things are good – not just in a panic”