Press Releases

AFT statement on ‘reparative therapy’ of members of sexual minorities - 23 January 2012

The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice fully supports the recent statement by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) on 'reparative' therapy.

AFT, together with the UKCP of which it is an Organisational Member, does not consider homosexuality or bisexuality, or transsexual and transgendered states to be pathologies, mental disorders or indicative of developmental arrest. These are not symptoms to be treated by psychotherapists, in the sense of attempting to change or remove them.

AFT considers there to be no place for ‘reparative therapy’ within the contemporary ethical framework underpinning all psychotherapeutic approaches. AFT fully endorses the Code of Ethics set forth by UKCP in relation to these repellent practices.

Notes to editors

1. The UKCP statement and policy can be viewed at http://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/article1471.html

2. AFT, the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, is a thriving multi-disciplinary alliance of professionals working therapeutically with children, adults and those important in their lives.  It is the UK voice for systemic approaches to family, couple and individual therapy. For further details visit www.aft.org.uk

 

 

Publication marks next chapter in reclaiming Social Work - 30 November 2011

The next chapter in the reinvigoration of social work thinking and practice is being warmly welcomed by leading professionals working with vulnerable children and families.

Marking the publication of ‘Social Work Reclaimed: Innovative Frameworks for Child and Family Social Work Practice’, Sue Jones, chair of AFT, said: ‘The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK is delighted to welcome this book exploring the pioneering Reclaim Social Work model, which uses systemic processes and practice to underpin a new philosophy guiding work with vulnerable families and the dedicated teams who support them.’

The model uses small social work 'units' of clinicians and therapists to strengthen key relationships in children and families’ lives to create the best outcome for the child. It was created by leading social workers in the London Borough of Hackney, but has since gained national recognition.

Sue Jones said: ‘We know that building relational strengths in families, communities and professional teams supports individual, family and social well-being. The application of systemic thinking in social work in the 1960s-70s was hugely influential in the development of family-based systemic approaches within the UK. It has been a source of deep regret that over the ensuing years, owing to a combination of factors including cut backs and the bureaucratisation of social work in response to risk-management, these valuable skills were not fostered. Indeed, many experienced social workers left the profession during these times to take up posts which did value their systemic practice skills– a sad loss to social work.

‘We are heartened to witness a resurgence of systemic thinking and practice within social work, supported by the recent Review of Child Protection  by Professor of Social Work, Dr Eileen Munro. We strongly support the development of this approach and warmly congratulate those of our members engaged at the cutting edge of training and service delivery in the new model.’

Notes to editors

• Social Work Reclaimed: Innovative Frameworks for Child and Family Social Work Practice. Edited by Steve Goodman and Isabelle Trowler. Foreword by Eileen Munro, Published by Jessica Kingsley,
• Social Work Reclaimed – Transforming Social Work and Social Care in the 21st Century. A British Association of Social Workers conference. London. 14/12/2011
• AFT, the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK, is is the UK's leading organisation for professionals working  therapeutically with families and other communities of care, and is a hub of excellence and expertise in family therapy and systemic practice.
• AFT media enquiries to Jan Parker – email janparker@aft.org.uk,  tel 07931 726247

17 August 2011

AFT response to England riots

20 May 2011

Better Care for Caring Families - GPs and others leading developments in family inclusive, family sensitive practice in frontline health services are gathering for a day of inspiration and exploration of challenges ahead.

24 March 2011

Charity chief calls for radical changes to support Scotland’s carers

13 March 2011

Can Scotland care better for caring families?

17 December 2010

One step forward, too many steps back on path to family friendly UK

AFT speak out on latest cuts forecast and welcome child detention reforms

21 October 2010

AFT response to the comprehensive spending review - click here

John Hills, Vice Chair of AFT said

‘There is a chilling paradox in the Government’s announcements. On the one hand, the impact of the cuts will be felt most by those with least. Families struggling to get by will be pushed to crisis point as frontline services and benefits are hit. On the other, is a commitment to expand access to “talking therapies”.

‘The connections between economics and psychology are clear, and embedded in our language. We talk of economic depression and personal depression. Poverty, marginalisation and restricted life opportunities are known factors in psychological ill- health.

‘As family psychotherapists and others working with vulnerable children, adults and families it would be crass to applaud funding for psychological services and not speak out against the social inequalities that can push people and family relationships to breaking point.’

On the announced expansion of the ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) programme to children and older people, John Hills added: ‘While this is broadly welcomed, we must remain ever watchful of the detail. Mental health problems don’t just affect individuals, but also those close to them. Supports for parents, children, couples and families affected by mental health difficulties must be part of the mix.’

27 January 2010

AFT response to Understanding Children's Well-being: A National Survey of Young People's Well-Being by the Children's Society.

25 November 2009

AFT response to NHS Couple Therapy plans

21 July 2009

Families at the heart of helping services

AFT’s 2009 flagship conference - "Families First: Family Therapy in and beyond the Consulting Room” - is calling for all ‘helping services’ to keep families as well as individuals at the heart of their thinking and practice.

The conference at Robinson College, Cambridge, from September 11-13, boasts a packed programme of over 30 workshops and plenaries exploring family focused practice, says Ian Lea of AFT’s East Anglia branch, hosting this year’s event.

Announcing the programme, he added: ‘This year’s conference aims to inspire and invigorate practice in family working and to explore important current issues facing professionals working with families in the UK.

‘For example, how does Government policy affect our work?Do managers ‘think family’ or ‘think targets’ when deciding priorities?What sense does it make to families, that itmay be useful for a therapist to meet with the referred client and family members or others involved with their lives? Is ‘thinking family’ value for money? Most importantly, do families find it useful?

23 April 2009

NICE depression guidelines

18 February 2009

After Baby P - collaboration and challenge - moving forward for children and families

AFT National Conference Manchester September 2008

AFT response to Government CAMHS review: July 08

AFT National Conference Manchester July 08

Government Cuts to Mental Health Trainings Beggar Belief
23 June 2008

David Cameron’s ‘family friendly’ vision not enough, say leading UK clinicians 16 March 2008

 

Ministers launch new ‘think family’ approach to help vulnerable parents and children

10 January 2008
CAB/003/08

The report flags up a radical shift in Government thinking, from supporting children and adults in isolation to a recognition of the importance of supporting all family members to break cycles of disadvantage and complex and often multiple problems they may have struggled with for generations.

AFT members have important insights into the significance of these announcements - and of the importance now of ensuring they translate into genuinely effective services that reach and help the most vulnerable families in the UK.

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SUPPORTING FAMILIES SUPPORTING CHILDREN (10/7/07)

News release: Response to Conservative Social Justice Policy Group

Professionals working with families and children throughout the UK warmly welcome public discussion on the importance of family relationships and children's well-being prompted by today's publication of the Conservative Social Justice Policy Group report, Breakthrough Britain.

Yet they also warn of drawing too simplistic a link between marriage and familial and societal cohesion.

'The report's recognition of the impact of poverty on family life and the importance of family relationships is certainly a step in the  right direction, but the remedies it proposes are too narrow,' says John Hills, vice chair of AFT, the Association for Family Therapy.

AFT supports the report's call for increased relationship and family support, but also recognises that many different shapes and formations of family life provide children with love, guidance and care.

'We cannot see that better tax allowances for married couples, welcome though this may be for those who choose this pathway, will make a significant difference, and risks discriminating against too many families and children,' says John Hills.

Flexible, family-friendly working, affordable high quality childcare,
accessible and effective relationship support and specialist services for
families facing multiple and complex problems are far more important, he added.

AFT chair, Barbara Warner, agrees. 'As professionals working with children and their families in public services and the independent sector, we recognise the urgent need for securely-funded preventative and specialist services. Too many children and their families have to reach crisis point before accessing effective forms of support. Some never reach them. 'Appropriate training is essential to the development of services that 'think family', and that support families in all their many forms. We request all political parties support the expansion of such training so we can better support all children and those upon whom they depend.'


PRESS ENQUIRIES, CONTACT AFT COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER JAN PARKER tel 07931 726247, email janparker@aft.org.uk

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.-- THINKING FAMILY - AT LAST! --

'We must develop the capacity of services to "think family". .. This means a
shift in mindset to focus on the strengths and difficulties of the whole
family rather than those of the parent or child in isolation.'
-- Hilary Armstrong, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion,
'Reaching Out: Think Family': June 2007

A Government review into supporting the UK's most vulnerable families has been hailed as a major step forward by professionals in the field.

'This report is hugely significant, and could make a very real difference to how we support families most at risk ,' says family psychotherapist Barbara Warner, chair of AFT, the UK's leading professional body representing those working with families in the public and independent sector in the UK.

Welcoming the first report of the Social Exclusion Task Force's 'Families At Risk review', she added: 'The challenge now is to identify ways to turn its insights into action, so families are given the help they need to transform their lives.'

The report, 'Reaching Out: Think Family' (June 2007) is unequivocal in its message - families experiencing serious and complex difficulties, often across generations, need family-focused support rather than interventions that focus on individual adults or children in isolation. As the report states: 'It's about getting all agencies working with individuals to instead "think family".

Barbara Warner says: 'This is music to the ears of those of us who have been calling for increased Government recognition of what research, clinical experience and family members themselves have been telling us for a very long time - that approaches that work with families to better support all family members are essential if these families' complex needs are to be met and the life chances of those within them improved.

'As the report makes very clear, parental difficulties can have a devastating impact on children's life chances. Yet with respectful and effective support, families can overcome complex and multiple difficulties that may have affected them for generations.'

Other key elements of the report are to be applauded, says Barbara Warner.
These include:

* Its clear recognition of the impact of povertyand social marginalization
on family life chances.

* Its clear statement that supporting family-focused services is 'not a debate on the shape of families'. AFT agrees, and takes 'family' to mean any group of people who define themselves as such, who care about and care for each other.

* Its focus on early intervention. AFT has long called for more securely
invested services that prioritise preventative care. Too many children and their families have to reach crisis point before accessing effective forms of support. Some never reach them. Preventative and early intervention requires more professionals trained in family risk assessment and supporting family well-being and resilience.

* Its emphasis on 'joined-up working' - Family therapists and other systemic practitioners have pioneered successful models of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary team working in the UK.

* Its clear declaration that 'one size does not fit all'. Working in ways that
acknowledge each family's circumstances and culture, strengths and needs, is a core principle of family therapy and systemic practice.

'Systemic family approaches are key if services are now to 'think family', as this review demands,' says Barbara Warner. 'Let's not miss this opportunity to transform how our public services support families most at risk. Every child matters, and that means every family matters too.'

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18 June 2007

MUCH MORE NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

AFT today announces its wholehearted support to the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign to spread reforms in services for children with disability and their families to all UK nations.

'As professionals working with families and children throughout the UK we are keenly aware of the profound impact that living with disability can have on children, families and all family members,' says Barbara Warner, chair of AFT.

'There is clear and urgent need across the UK to better support the children themselves and the families and carers who enrich their lives and care for them.

'While welcoming the Government's recently announced £340 million investment in services for children with disability in England, AFT calls for a fair funding deal for families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

'We note the present patchy provision of services and appropriate training for those working with children with disability and their families, highlighted in the Government's recent review: 'Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families.'

'Appropriate training is essential to the development of respectful and effective services for disabled children and their families. AFT now calls on the Government to support and extend training so that those working with children with disabilities can better support the children themselves and those upon whom they depend. '
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16 February 2007

UNICEF REPORT AN ALARM CALL, SAY FAMILY THERAPISTS

AFT, the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK, issues the following statement on UNICEF's report on children.

"There is much we recognise in the UNICEF report. As systemic clinicians working with children and families in the UK, we are keenly aware of the impact of poverty on young people's life experiences, health, behaviour and
hope.

"We also wish to expand understanding of child poverty beyond the present measure of material wealth. Too many of our young people are growing up in a culture of harsh individualism that is fuelling  relational impoverishment.

"It is no surprise to us that in Scandinavian countries, with their structures and proud sense of social connectedness and respectful care, children's sense of 'well-being' is high. They, and those who care for them, feel valued.

"While the report's statistics are dissected, its basic message remains. Unless we in the UK develop our systems of social empathy and value our children, their families and their other contexts of care and we risk remaining, shamefully, at the bottom of the UNICEF league."

Statement issued by
Jim Wilson, consultant systemic psychotherapist
Peter Stratton, Professor of Family Therapy, Leeds University,
Barbara Warner, Chair, Association of Family Therapy

on behalf of AFT

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