Yarran’s staff know:

• That the way services are delivered are just as important as what is delivered.

• That family-centred practice is a way of working that has a powerful rationale and proven benefits for children and families.

• That adopting family-centred practice does not have to involve more time or resources - it is a question of how we choose to spend our time.

• That what we talk about and do when they are with families indicates what their values and priorities are.

• That our relationship with the family is part of the intervention, and their helping skills as therapeutic tools.

• To seek regular feedback from families

• To work collaboratively involving families and professionals.

• That adopting a Family - Centred Approach is a process, not an endpoint.

• To be self-reflective, making time for ongoing evaluation, discussion and review of service delivery.

Yarran’s staff believe that:

• All families are different and function best when their unique values and preferences are acknowledged and catered for.

• Parents know their children and their family best and want the best for them.

• All families have strengths and competencies and are capable of developing these further.

• The well-being and development of children depend upon the well-being of all other family members and of the family as a whole.

• The well-being of families depends upon the quality of their informal social supports as well as the availability of high-quality formal supports.

Yarran’s staff members will:

• Treat families and family members with dignity and respect at all times.

• Be sensitive and responsive to family cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity base services on the needs and priorities of families.

• Acknowledge and respect the family’s expert knowledge of the child and the family circumstances as complimenting their own professional expertise.

• Give parents opportunities to participate fully in the planning and delivery of services.

• Support and respect the choices they make.

• Provide families with the information they need to make informed choices.

• Take account of the needs of all family members as well as the needs of the family as a whole.

• Acknowledge and build on existing family strengths, and help families develop new strengths and competencies to meet the needs of their children and family.

• Help family’s access a broad range of informal, community, and formal supports and resources.

• Help families establish and maintain social support networks according to need.

• Form strong links with other mainstream and specialist child and family services.