This pack of 40 direct work sheets contains a mix of 20 My Strengths, Growth and Resilience Tree, and 20 My Family Tree, Direct Work Sheets.
My Strengths, Growth and Resilience Tree
This direct worksheet is designed to open conversations regarding the child/ young persons worries. It is based on strengths perspective, solution focused and motivational interviewing. The tree contains white apples and a ladder. The tree’s roots can be seen underground on five different colour levels with each level is deeper and numbered 1-5.
To begin, ask the young person what they feel they are good at. This could be anything positive, such as looking after their younger siblings, good at applying make-up, nail varnish, good at football, maths etc. Ask them to write in the apples in the tree and talk to them about these being a strength.
The roots of the tree contain white boxes for the young person to write what worries they have. Ask them to rate how worried they are about a particular worry and write in the box what this is. If they are really worried write in the bottom layer, which replicates their deepest worries. The scale is for them to decide how worried they are feeling about anything in particular. Work with the young person on how they could move up the levels and up the ladder bringing their worries into the open and looking for solutions and ideas of how to manage these. Once they feel this is no longer a worry, write in the tree apples to reflect that this worry has been dealt with. Or simply put it in the apple box packed up and dealt with, ready to be taken away altogether.
The apples on the grass are going rotten. These illustrate that sometimes worries that have gone away may return but if they are not dealt with, can rot back into the ground and become a deep worry again. Or if they are dealt with straight away, can be moved up the tree or put in the tray and taken away.
This direct work sheet is multipurpose. It can be used to demonstrate how a child feels about certain family members. Use the scale on the roots to discuss how much they like someone or don’t like someone. You can then support them to build a better relationship for instance or find out why they don’t like them as it may be a safeguarding concern.
The idea is that the young person learns to talk about their worries and find a solution to manage how they are feeling based on their strengths, resilience whilst keeping them solution focused.
My Family Tree
My Family Tree is a versatile direct work tool based on systems theory. This direct work can be used to ascertain the child’s views and voice. It is designed to be a conversational piece of work and to test your hypothesis. You can upload a photograph of My Family Tree onto the child’s file, use for evidence, gain views for s.7 reports and assessments.
My Family Tree for Looked after Children
My Family Tree can be used for direct work with Looked After Children and forms part of their Life Story. Support the user to draw or stick photographs in one of the tree houses reflecting who they live with. The 2nd tree house can be used to stick or draw pictures of who the user has lived with or stays with for respite. It helps the user connect their wider family / network and who looks after them. It helps them understand their journey so far or current circumstances. The tree houses are connected to support understanding of where the user is going and returning to. Who is important to them? Who are their birth family? The family time gazebo is situated adjacent to the tree. The user can draw or stick photographs of birth family members they see. This is important for the users to understand their world, their identity, and where they came from, prepare them for family time visits. The letter box is to illustrate letter box contact with those who they continue to communicate with.
My Family Tree to support family separation
My Family Tree can also be used for a child to understand about parent separation, who they will be living with and who they will spend time with. It is designed to support the child’s understanding of change and routine.
It creates an opportunity for the professional when completing this direct work 1-1, a conversation about what happens in each of these homes, whether the child is happy or if there are any worries or concerns. The child can draw facial expressions on themselves and family members etc in the tree houses. If they see a parent for family time, they can draw in the tent. The homes can be anyone’s home the child spends time/ overnights in, to aid discussions.
