The document evaluates a multi-agency abuse and trauma recovery service aimed at helping children and young people aged 5 to 18 affected by domestic or sexual abuse. It highlights the importance of providing a safe environment and various therapeutic supports, while assessing the service's quality, accessibility, and effectiveness in collaboration with local services. Challenges and opportunities for partnership working are also discussed.

1. Evaluation of an Abuse
and Trauma Recovery
Service: A Multi-Agency
Collaboration
Evelyn Cook – PhD Researcher, University of Stirling
Bryan Evans – Assistant Director, Children 1st (West of Scotland)

2. Argyll and Bute Recovery from Abuse and
Trauma
 …local services help children to heal, and their families to recover,
from abusive experiences.
 Who it is for … children and young people between 5 and 18 years
who have been affected by either domestic abuse or sexual abuse.
 What we do … offer young people a safe environment … build a
trusting relationship
 … through a range of therapeutic supports … counselling skills, art,
play
 … help them understand and cope with their feelings.
 …to take charge of their healing and recovery … encourage them
to develop trusting relationships with safe boundaries in the future

3. Evaluation of an Abuse and
Trauma Recovery Service
Quality/Impact of the service
Accessibility of the service
Partnership Working

4. Evaluation of an Abuse and
Trauma Recovery Service
How effective is the ATR Service in providing an
integrated service for children and young
people who have difficulties with mental health
or wellbeing as a result of experiencing abusive
or traumatic events?

5. Service UsersWaiting List Records
Referrers
Recording Database
Practitioners
CAMHS team

6. Source of Referral Total
Health
Community Health Nurse 1
GP 2
Health Visitor 1
Psychiatrist 1
School Nurse 1
Education
Educational Psychologist 7
Head Teacher 4
Social Care
Family Worker 1
Social Care Worker 1
Support Worker 1
Social Worker 18
Social Work Assistant 3
Third Sector Young Carers 1
Total 42

7. Resource and
Screening Panel

8. Resource and
Screening Panel
Educational Psychology
Social Work
Management
Practitioners
Children 1st Management
Joint
accountability
Reduction
in waste
Effective
signposting
Shared
focus

9. Independency
Non-Clinical Work
 Consultation
 Training
 Local Authority Practitioner Forum
 Policy Development
 Trust & consistency
 Additional choice
 Reduced stigma
 Increased accessibility for referrers

10. Accessibility

11.  42% of referrals for Looked After Children
 A service for Social Work?
 Support for Families and Foster Carers
 Therapeutic Framework/Approach
Service Remit & Focus

12. Benefits
 Shared professional
expertise
 Range of therapeutic
approaches / paradigms
 Flexibility in delivery
Challenges
 Opportunities for
partnership working
 Referral criteria
 Service Structures and
Context
Integrated Working
AND

13. Questions?
e.r.cook@stir.ac.uk