Think Whole Family Work Whole Family
The Think Whole Family, Work Whole Family approach is important for exploring and understanding what everyday life is like for everyone in the household. It supports effective risk assessment and helps ensure that appropriate support is in place for all family members. By considering the needs, strengths, and challenges of the whole family and their connected networks, this approach enables changes that are more meaningful, coordinated, and sustainable for everyone involved.
Think Whole Family acknowledges that people rarely live in isolation and that families are complex, dynamic systems that continuously evolve. To create lasting, meaningful change that benefits the entire family, we must look beyond the individual we are supporting.
Work Whole Family means ensuring that all staff and services communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and coordinate their efforts to enhance family involvement, choice, and control.
This approach provides families and their connected persons with a clear understanding of which services are responsible for each aspect of support, creating a more cohesive and supportive environment. It recognises that some services may work with both the adults and the young person, or with multiple adults in the family, and promotes joined up working across all areas of support
The Think Whole Family, Work Whole Family Protocol and Toolkit have been endorsed by the Sheffield Adults Safeguarding Partnership Board and the Sheffield Children’s Safeguarding Partnership.