Our culture
We have adopted a positive high performance and learning culture, in which we create a positive, supportive learning environment, and our staff welfare and career development are part of our priorities. There is a clear career pathway and training and development plan.
We work within a culture of partnership, with children and families and partner agencies within an environment of high support and high challenge that fosters creativity in the way we work with families, to build on their strengths, with a view of enabling and supporting their autonomy to safeguard their children and thrive.
Children at the heart of our practice
Our practice is to place children and young people at the heart of what we do and we really listen to them to understand what help they need and we work hard to keep them safe and make every effort to support them to thrive and achieve to their best potential.
Our practice model
We have adopted 'relationship-based approach' as our practice model in Merton which places children, young people and their families at the heart of what we do. It is a strength based approach which focuses on the relationship we form with families and the complexities of these encounters. Practitioners seeks to respond to the internal and external responses of children and families as a whole within the context of their vulnerabilities and lived experience.
Relationship-based practice rest in the fusion of psychosocial, psychodynamic and systemic based approaches. It is also informed by the attachment theory. Central to this is the thinking that past affects the present and we do not always realise the impact, and that holding and containment are crucial to understanding and helping vulnerable people with troubled past.
Core principles of relationship-based practice
- Human behaviours and the professional relationship are an integral components of any professional intervention.
- Human behaviour is complex and multi-faceted. People are not simply rational beings but have affective (both conscious and unconscious) dimensions that enrich but simultaneously complicate human relationships.
- The internal and external worlds of individuals are inseparable, so integrated (psychosocial), as opposed to one-dimensional, responses to social problems are crucial for social work practice.
- Each social work encounter is unique and attention must be paid to the specific circumstances of each individual.
- A collaborative relationship is the means through which interventions are channelled, and this requires a particular emphasis to be placed on the 'use of self'.
- The respect for individuals is embedded in relationship-based practice involves practising in inclusive and empowering ways.
Relationship-based model is consistent with the values in Merton, as we keep children and families at the heart of what we do. We listen, respond and value our service users, their families and communities; we challenge inequality, promote inclusion and value diversity; we work in a holistic way with families to deliver a child and family lead intervention; we promote a learning culture which values staff and volunteers; we work in partnership and finally we are committed to continuous improvement.
For us, it is important to also support and encourage practitioners to be creative in their approach using their skills and tools available to them. Our practitioners use their professional judgement and expertise in determining which approach or combination of approaches is best in order to achieve the best outcome. These approaches, include our strength based systemic approach, signs of safety, solution based brief therapy, trauma informed, restorative approaches and motivational interviewing skills.
Our anti-discriminative practice ensure there is a clear understanding of respect and empowerment in professional relationships and collaborative working with our partners. We actively challenge inequality, promote inclusion and value diversity and we pride ourselves in promoting a learning culture which values staff and volunteers and work in partnership with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Our vision
Merton should be renowned as the south west London suburb that is a great place to live and call home, where people are also good neighbours and take responsibility for improving their own lives and neighbourhoods, supported by good value local services from Merton Council.
Children and young people
We have high ambitions for our children and young people and working with our partners, and provide outstanding services that promote and improve their life chances of all children and young people. Our dedication and determination helps them to face obstacles or challenges and overcome them, and ‘bridge’ the gap in outcomes between some children and their peers.
Our values
Across our workforce we share a set of values:
- We keep our children, families and vulnerable adults at the heart of all our work
- We listen, respond and value our service users, their families and communities
- We challenge inequality, promote inclusion and value diversity
- We promote a learning culture which values staff and volunteers
- We work in partnership
- We are committed to continuous improvement