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Working with fathers and male caregivers

Thanks to Wigan Safeguarding Children’s Partnership for permission to use the information and resources below.

Where the term father is used on this page this includes the context of male caregivers who have child caretaking roles, whether biological fathers, stepfathers or mothers partner. 

This emphasises the inclusive nature of the term, recognizing the various roles men can play in children’s lives. 

Why does It matter?

Research highlights that effectively engaging fathers in Early Help and Social Work leads to significant benefits for children, including:

  • improved educational attainment
  • enhanced cognitive development
  • better emotional regulation
  • positive impacts on behaviour
  • increased social competence
  • greater self-esteem

Additionally, involving fathers can reduce reliance on statutory services and improve outcomes for the entire family (Bateman, Darwin, and Galdas, 2017).

Conversely, failing to engage fathers limits the ability to:

  • hold them accountable for harmful actions, such as domestic abuse
  • strengthen their role as protective and supportive resources in children’s lives

Top tips for working with dads and male caregivers

Listen to fathers

Pay attention to what dad’s value and incorporate their feedback. Research by Brandon et al. (2017) shows fathers appreciate:

  • early inclusion in the process
  • being genuinely listened to
  • reliable professionals who follow through on promises
  • a balanced approach of constructive criticism and praise
  • practical, actionable support

Get the basics right

  • Fathers/male caregivers who live outside the family home are often excluded. Ensure their contact details (phone number, address, email) are recorded.
  • Involve dads/male caregivers in assessments and invite them to relevant meetings

Use genograms and chronologies

  • Genograms: Map out the immediate and extended family structure to understand relationships and dynamics
  • Chronologies: Record significant life events to build a comprehensive family history for better assessment and planning
  • Ensure that records outline any contact/involvement of the father/male care giver and Paternal family
  • Identify family members and the relationship dynamics of paternal family.

Involve fathers in planning

  • Schedule meetings at times that suit the father’s availability. If this is not possible, gather his views beforehand and share minutes afterward.
  • Write SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) plans that clearly assign actions to individuals. Avoid vague terms like “Parents will…”— use specific names instead.
  • In cases of parental conflict or complex family dynamics, consider separate meetings to ensure all perspectives are fairly represented
  • The meeting should reflect the expectation of co-parenting, for example having fully separate meetings when there is an expectation of parents communicating and organising co-parenting independently does not support/monitor co-parenting

Address ‘Maternal Gatekeeping’

  • Mothers may claim fathers are unwilling to engage or request no contact with them. While there may be valid reasons for these statements, decisions should be evidence-based, not assumptions.
  • Verify the information independently and ensure all voices are heard

Reflect on barriers

  • Examine team culture—are fathers often overlooked in your practice?
  • Consider unconscious biases influenced by personal experiences or case histories
  • Discuss challenges and assumptions with supervisors and colleagues to ensure impartial, informed decisions

Stay child-centered

  • Always prioritize the child’s best interests. Consider whether involving the father/male care giver will improve or hinder outcomes for the child.
  • Ensure that both parents are supported to separate their relationship with the child from their relationship with the other parent, no matter their relationship status

Manage risk

  • Some fathers/male caregivers may pose risks due to violent or abusive behaviour. While engagement is necessary to hold them accountable, it must be done with safety measures in place.
  • Develop and share risk management plans with professionals. For serious risks, consider interventions such as MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).
  • Where appropriate, refer fathers/male caregivers to Perpetrator Programmes to address abusive behaviour and promote respectful relationships.

Use indirect interventions

  • Fathers may engage more effectively when interventions are paired with other activities. For example, research (McGale et al., 2011) found that combining support with activities like sports or exercise improved engagement in mental health programs.
  • Be creative in designing approaches that encourage fathers/male caregiver  to open up and participate

By adopting these practices, professionals can foster stronger relationships with fathers and male caregivers, improving outcomes for children while holding fathers accountable for their roles and responsibilities.

Useful links

National resources