Father Inclusive Practice
The National Child Safeguarding Review Panel report The Myth of Invisible Men, published September 2021, outlined the pressing need for all organisations working with children and families to engage with fathers and father figures more effectively.
Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership is responding to this report and implementing a father inclusive strategy across the whole partnership to raise the visibility of fathers and improve the engagement of fathers in Universal, Early Help and Specialist Children’s Services.
For more information see the project outline or contact mark.osborn@norfolk.gov.uk
You will find links to organisations that support fathers below, but it is essential that all professionals and organisations understand that guiding fathers to father specific organisations and resources is valuable, but it is not father engagement. Engaging and working with fathers is everyone’s business and adjustments in service delivery have to be made in order to become inclusive in practice.
National organisations
The Fatherhood Institute is one of the most respected fatherhood organisations in the world. A registered UK charity (number 1075104), their work focuses on:
- collating, participating in and publicising research
- lobbying for legal and policy changes
- helping public services, employers and others become more father-inclusive, and
The website is a valuable and user-friendly resource to source any number of research topics relating to fathers.
- Unseen Men – Summary of key issues and learning for improved practice around ‘unseen’ men
- Hidden in Plain Sight – Why language matters
Local organisations
Match of the Dads is an award-winning support network & 5-a-side football league just for Dads, Step-Dads and Dads-to-be, playing Monday nights at the FDC in Norwich between 7:30-9:30pm. They accept all ages, abilities and levels of fitness! To join them or if you have any questions, just visit their website and click “join us”.
Norfolk Community Law Service
Advice and support for people going through the family courts who don’t have a lawyer; also a range of free legal advice services including debt, discrimination, domestic abuse, employment, immigration and welfare benefits appeals.
Articles and information
Dr Mark Osborn talks about Dads and mental health in the 12th Man Radio Show recorded on 3rd November 2022 – available on demand here https://futureradio.co.uk/show/the-12th-man-sounds-show/
Working with fathers to safeguard children – Osborn, M. (2014) Child Abuse & Neglect 38: 993-1001. Available from http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2014/working-with-fathers-to-safeguard-children-fi-journal-article/
Young fathers: unseen but not invisible – Osborn, M. (2015) Families, Relationships and Societies, 4(2), 323-329. Available from https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/frs/4/2/article-p323.xml
Community Care
Working with fathers – key advice from research
