Family Futures was established in 1998 in order to develop a specialist service for children in adoptive families, foster families and families living with children who have experienced separation, loss or early trauma.  It is now recognised as a world-class centre of excellence, specialising in therapeutic work for children who have experienced early trauma and who have attachment difficulties.  Family Futures is now an Ofsted regulated Adoption Agency and we are actively seeking applicants who wish to become adoptive parents.  Please click here to gain further information about our adoption programme, i-Adopt.

Family Futures also offers a wide range of training programmes, seminars and workshops for therapists, social workers and parents; and has produced various books and videos.

Please use the links on the left to find out more about us.

RECOMMENDED READING FOR PARENTS
Click Here to download the Parents Booklist

COMMENTS FROM FAMILY FUTURES ASSOCIATES
RECOMMENDING OUR SERVICE

Daniel A. Hughes, Ph.D
"For five years now I have been closely associated with Family Futures.  I would like to say how much I value and enjoy my relationships with this excellent assembly of qualified professionals.  I have gotten to know their exceptional clinicians as both a consultant on individual cases as well as a trainer in the model of treatment that I teach.  I am continuously impressed at the ability of Family Futures to be truly integrative in providing the most appropriate services to the families who come to them for assistance.  Family Futures both remains aware of the most current thinking and treatment for trauma and attachment difficulties and also insures that their clinicians have the necessary training to provide optimal service.  I am also amazed at the scope of services provided—thorough, comprehensive assessments, integrative treatments for the whole family (both as individuals and as a unit), parent mentoring, advocacy, and providing resources such as books, videotapes, and contact information for related services.  They also provide trainings for professionals and adoptive parents on a regular basis.  Hundreds of therapists and social workers from throughout the UK have received training in my model of treatment for adoptive families because Family Futures is so committed to bringing specialised interventions to as many communities as is possible. 

In short, Family Futures has always been a remarkable organisation to provide a wide range of specialised services for adoptive families and professionals throughout the UK.  What is even more remarkable is that they keep getting better at what they do so well."
July 2006

Jonathan Pearce, Director, Adoption UK
"The Family Futures Adoption and Attachment Course has proved a real benefit for Adoption UK and its adoptive parents. Most importantly, the parents who have participated have studied and learned about attachment theory and its practical implications for their relationships with, and parenting of, the traumatised children they have adopted from the local authority care system. However, the course has impacted far wider than that within and outside Adoption UK. The parents who have participated, many of whom have been Adoption UK adoptive parent support group coordinators, trainers or employed staff have been able to disseminate their learning to many parents within the wider community that is the organisation's peer support network. Adoption UK and its parents and children owe an immense debt of gratitude to the experience, knowledge and wisdom of Family Futures and its staff. As ever, we are delighted to be associated with the organisation's work."
July 2006

COMMENTS FROM FAMILY FUTURES 2007 SERVICE EVALUATION

For a break down of service user and professional responses click here

Our outcome statistics for 2007 were very good. Of the 186 children who were in the treatment programme last year, there was only a 5% disruption rate, which compares to the national average of 25-33%.  80% of these disruptions involved sibling placements. This highlights our concern about sibling placements as to whether they have been properly assessed and whether they are, with traumatised children not a high risk option. The other statistic is that we had a 7% parents separation rate, which though lower than the national average, should draw our attention to the stress that family placements have on couple relationships.

Below are some of the comments that children, parents and professionals wrote when asked what they thought of our service?: -

THIS IS WHAT CHILDREN THINK OF US;
BELOW ARE COMMENTS CHILDREN MADE ABOUT OUR SERVICE FROM FAMILY FUTURES 2007 SERVICE EVALUATION

Comment: “Yes it’s really good at Family Futures because all the people there have helped me and my family so much thank you.”

Comment: “Thank you for letting us come.”

Comment: “Thank you everyone. I love coming to see you.”

Comment: “Family Futures makes me feel calmer as I can let out my problems. They can help me sort them out, but I find it hard to talk about things.”

Comment: “Thank you for helping me and my family.”

Comment: “Thank you for trying your best with me, even when I have been rude.”

Comment: “I really like Roz; she is very nice to me. Some times I like going to Family Futures, some times I hate going there.”

Comment: “I like what they are doing for me.”

BELOW ARE COMMENTS PARENTS MADE ABOUT OUR SERVICE FROM FAMILY FUTURES 2007 SERVICE EVALUATION

Comment: “The yes column is not enough. I feel that the answers to most of the questions should be excellent. Family Futures staff and therapists have helped and supported us and they will never know how much this has meant to us. Our family unit now has hope for the future. You all deserve a medal. THANK YOU!!!”

Comment: “Excellent – I wish we’d known about this service when/before we’d adopted the kids.”

Comment: “Family Futures has always been very supportive and has empowered me to demand what has been needed for the young person.”

Comment: “Excellent service, flexible, supportive in difficult circumstances.”

Comment: “We would not have survived as a family and the placement most definitely would have broken down.”

Comment: “I completely trust the people we work with and feel they understand our difficulties and how we can be helped. I haven’t liked all of their suggestions or understood why straight away but they have made a positive difference and I get the reasoning in the end! I feel they listen to my viewpoint and then I do it their way!! Which works!!”

Comment: “We have learnt different and more productive ways of talking to children and dealing with their emotions and behaviours. We have learnt, and are still learning to be therapeutic parents. The support in out of office hours has been exceptionally good. The facility to be able to contact Elsie Price on the phone, almost at any time and even on vacation, has been invaluable. We have never felt that we merely had a client/professional relationship; it was more like talking to a wise member of our own family who gave her time unstintingly. We are extremely grateful for this.”

Comment: “Having used local trust services too I’d say keep up the friendly caring approach. Our children have a completely different feeling, as we do, about coming to Family Futures as if we are coming to a friend’s home where we feel safe, secure and understood and therefore able to explore difficult issues. I’ve noticed this especially with Jack who is very defensive and often non-communicable when he’s seeing other professionals.”

BELOW ARE COMMENTS SCHOOLS & SOCIAL SERVICES MADE ABOUT OUR SERVICE FROM FAMILY FUTURES 2007 SERVICE EVALUATION

Comment: “I think the services and support you offer to families who you work with is excellent. It’s a shame more couldn’t benefit too!”

Comment: “We found Marion Allen very friendly when she came to visit us. She was very reassuring and patient in answering our questions and in explaining issues with us. Marion carried out observations but in a non- threatening way. It was a very positive experience.”

Comment: “I have been very impressed by the support offered by Family Futures for families and us at school. Carry on the good work!”

Comment: “Input and support was always generously offered and helpful, particularly on placement of pupil.”

Comment: “I value the contact I have had especially with Marion Allen, the communication and support has been very important.”

Comment: “My experience of Family Futures is that it is such a high quality provision for vulnerable children that there should be more such centres giving valuable support to far more needy families. This expert group of practitioners, in the ideal world, should be available to all! In many years as an educationalist, I have never before experienced such high quality provision – it is a privilege to have been involved.”

Comment: “As a school we have valued the support and guidance given by Family Futures.”

Comment: “In my opinion Family Futures offers a high quality service, which has been thoughtfully thought out. It is child-centred, but never loses sight of the importance of adults in children’s lives. The commitment, professionalism and knowledge of staff is obvious and appreciated.”