What is the Helping Process?

The helping process is the skeleton that holds our work together. It takes us through a series of steps to help keep the work structured, focussed and on track. 

It is reflective too; FSCF staff take opportunity at each stage of the helping process to reflect on whats going well, whats not, what we would do differently next time, and anywhere we feel stuck or facing a dilemma. This includes looking at 'ourselves in the work' and be self-reflexive (why do I believe what I believe). You might do this in 121 supervision, reflective group supervision or peer supervision - or any time you choose to! 

The Helping Process Map

This shows the seven stages of the helping process that you'll move through in your journey with a family. You'll see that partnership and relationship form the central spine of the whole process itself:

Contracting, constructs, mentalising and considering epistemic trust occur throughout every part of the process - they are 'how we do the work'. 

Each part of the helping process has tools and worksheets to support you. You'll find these in the 'Tools' sections.

A note that it is not always a nice, linear process. Sometimes, because of changes in circumstances or life events, you might need to pause and go back a stage. Be led by the family and move at their pace as much as you can. 

E-Learning

You can find more about the Helping Process on the Resilient Families E-Learning, available on the L and D portal