Family Star Plus and Family Star
For parents and carers who are being supported with parenting and managing the complexities of family life
Who is the Family Star Plus for?
The Family Star Plus is an improved variant of the Family Star (see below) and was developed to help support effective parenting. It is in part a direct response to the UK Government’s Troubled Families initiative, and provides evidence within the key Phase 1 areas of employability, anti-social behaviour and school attendance. It helps parents and carers and those supporting them identify progress towards key outcomes like my children’s health, how I feel, home and my children’s behaviour, and give clarity on where to focus next.
Using the Outcomes Star approach
The Family Star Plus and the Family Star are designed to be used as part of the Outcomes Star approach. That’s why we provide essential training and ongoing support to all licenced practitioners, so you can embed the Outcomes Star approach in your practice.
How does the Family Star Plus work?
The Family Star Plus covers ten key outcome areas that help support parents and carers to parent more effectively and assesses their progress towards each following a five-stage Journey of Change.
You and the people you support will fill out the Star together, and use it to better identify where their strengths lie and where they might need more help, and to make plans for moving forward along the journey.
Outcome areas
My children's health
How I feel
My children's emotions
Keeping my children safe
Friends and community
My children's learning
My children's behaviour
Our family routine
Home and money
Work
The Journey of Change
01
Stuck
02
Accepting help
03
Trying
04
Finding what works
05
Managing well
Family Star
For parents and carers who are being supported with parenting and managing the complexities of family life
Who is the Family Star for?
The Family Star is the first Star created by Outcomes Star for families and was revised in 2023 to be more trauma-informed, accessible and client-focused. For services in Scotland, specific guidance is available for the Family Star which supports you to use it in the context of the GIRFEC framework and SHANARRI well-being indicators.
The Family Star helps parents and those supporting them identify progress towards key outcomes like my children’s health, emotional well-being, my children’s learning and home and money, and give clarity on where to focus next.
How does the Family Star work?
The Family Star covers eight key outcome areas that are essential to helping parents to parent effectively and support their children to thrive. It assesses their progress towards each following a five-stage Journey of Change.
You and the people you support will fill out the Star together, and use it to better identify where their strengths lie and where they might need more help, and to make plans for moving forward along the journey.
Outcome areas
My children's health
Emotional well-being
Keeping my children safe
Friends and community
My children's learning
My children's behaviour
Our family routine
Home and money
The Journey of Change
01
Stuck
02
Accepting help
03
Trying
04
Finding what works
05
Managing well
Download a preview
Explore a preview of a resource for the Family Star Plus and Family Star
- What other Family Stars are available?
The Family Star Plus and Family Star are part of a suite of Stars for the family. Family Star (Early Years) has been developed for parents of young children. Family Impact Star (Addictions) is for people impacted by the addictive behaviour of someone close to them. Family Star (Relationships) is to help support parents to resolve conflict in relationships.
You may also want to consider My Star which can be used to capture the voice of the child, their needs and perspective.
Always rooted in expertise and experience
The Family Star was originally developed in collaboration with Camden Council CSF and Camden service providers including Hopscotch, Coram, Elfrida Rathbone, Families In Focus, Agar Grove Children’s Centre and the YOS, plus Family Action and additional piloting and feedback from Hampshire Family Services. The Family Star Plus was developed in collaboration with Leicestershire County Council.
