PERSPECS - The NOREAM Principles

Person-Centred

PCF Domain 2: Values and ethics; Domain 3: Diversity and equality; Domain 4: Rights, justice and economic wellbeing; Domain 6: critical reflection and analysis; Domain 7: Skills and interventions; Domain 8: Contexts and organisations.

Social Work professional standard 1: Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities; Professional standard 2: Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people; Professional standard 5; Act safely, respectfully and with professional integrity

The needs and welfare of the child should take precedence over the needs of immigration control. Approaches which primarily assess immigration status rather than child welfare are discriminatory and harmful to children. NOREAM looks at the needs of the child before restrictions based on immigration control and bordering are considered.

Early-Action focused

PCF Domain 1: Professionalism; Domain 5: Knowledge; Domain 7: Skills and interventions

Social Work professional standard 1: Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities.

By intervening earlier before children and families reach a crisis point, better outcomes for children are achieved. Early intervention involves proactively identifying families who might be at future risk of crisis, and working with families who approach the local authority for support but do not yet meet the threshold for Section 17 support.  

Strengths Centred

PCF Domain 1: Professionalism; Domain 4: Rights, justice and economic wellbeing; Domain 5: Knowledge; Domain 7: Skills and interventions.

Social Work professional standard 1: Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities.

Instead of focusing on the deficits of children and families,  NOREAM identifies the strengths of children and families with NRPF,  working with them to identify protective factors which prevent crisis, and to strengthen and build on these factors. 

Partnership based

PCF Domain 1: Professionalism; PCF Domain 2: Values and ethics; Domain 4: Rights, justice and economic wellbeing; Domain 7: Skills and interventions; Domain 8: Contexts and organisations; Domain 9: professional leadership.

Social Work professional standard 1: Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities; Professional standard 2: Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people; professional standard 3: Be accountable for the quality of my practice and the decisions I make; Professional standard 4: Maintain my continuing professional development

Partnership working is key to the NOREAM model. This operates on three levels: First, partnership between different directorates within the local authority to support families with complex needs or young people in transition; Second, partnership between the statutory and voluntary sector where differing organisational perspectives, roles and expertise are understood and valued; and finally, partnership between social workers and children and families where the views of children are central and included in the support process.

Evidence led

PCF Domain 1: Professionalism; Domain 2: Values and ethics; Domain 5: Knowledge; Domain 6: critical reflection and analysis; Domain 8: Contexts and organisations; Domain 9: professional leadership.

Social Work professional standard 3: Be accountable for the quality of my practice and the decisions I make; Professional standard 4: Maintain my continuing professional development; Professional standard 6: Promote ethical practice and report concerns

NOREAM practice is based on using evidence from research to improve outcomes instead of relying on the way things have always been done. It relies on practitioners asking questions, and not accepting things at face value. In any situation, practitioners should ask: why am I doing this? and what is the evidence for this action?

Compassion grounded

PCF Domain 1: Professionalism; Domain 2: Values and ethics; Domain 7: Skills and interventions.

Social Work professional standard 2: Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of people; Professional standard 5; Act safely, respectfully and with professional integrity

NOREAM draws on the philosophy of care ethics where support is based on a relational approach based on care and compassion and human interaction. NOREAM practitioners will ensure that their support is based on building relationships and a participatory approach where service users are valued and included in decisions that affect them.

Structurally informed

PCF Domain 3: Diversity and equality; Domain 4: Rights, justice and economic wellbeing; Domain 6: critical reflection and analysis; Domain 7: Skills and interventions; Domain 8: Contexts and organisations.

Social Work professional standard 1: Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities; Professional standard 5; Act safely, respectfully and with professional integrity

Neglect can operate on the micro-level of families and households, but can also be seen on the macro-level of laws and policies which are inadequate to protect children. Children who are politically marginalised can be particularly vulnerable to statutory neglect (see box on page 5), and in order to protect children all these levels must be identified and responded to.