Project Title

A Study of Health and Social Care Professionals’ Family Focused Practice with Parents who have Mental Illness, their Children and Families in Northern Ireland

Research Focus

Health and Social Care Professionals’ family focused practice  (FFP) in adult mental health and children’s services

Funder & Dates

Health and Social Care Board

January 2016 to February 2018

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

Dr Anne Grant

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Prof John Devaney, Prof Gavin Davidson, Dr Joe Duffy, Dr Oliver Perra, Dr Karen Galway, Prof Gerry Leavey, Dr Aisling Monds-Watson

Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student

Dr Susan Lagdon

Name & Institution of Collaborators

John Devaney, Queen’s University Belfast

Gavin Davidson, Queen’s University Belfast

Joe Duffy, Queen’s University Belfast

Oliver Perra, Queen’s University Belfast

Karen Galway, Queen’s University Belfast

Gerry Leavey, Ulster University

Aisling Monds-Watson, Ulster University

Name of External Partner Organisations

Health and Social Care Board

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

In 2016 the HSCB commissioned Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), in conjunction with Ulster University, to conduct a two-year baseline study to examine HSC professionals’ FFP in adult mental health and children’s services regionally. The study set out to measure;

(1) The extent, nature and scope of HSC professionals’ FFP

(2) Factors that predict, facilitate and, or hinder FFP

(3) How FFP may be further promoted.

In addressing these core areas, the perspectives of both HSC professionals and parents who have mental illness were sought. 

The research questions included:

What is the extent of HSC professionals’ FFP in adult mental health and children’s services with parents who have mental illness, their children and families?

What are the significant differences, if any, between HSC professionals’ FFP in adult mental health and children’s services?

What are the significant predictors of HSC professionals’ FFP?

What is the nature and scope of HSC professionals’ FFP?

What are parents’ experiences of HSC professionals’ FFP?

What factors, if any, facilitate and, or hinder HSC professionals’ FFP? And if so how?

How might FFP be further developed in Northern Ireland?

The first part of the study entailed conducting a systematic review of the literature) and development of a logic model, in order to present contextual information underpinning the wider project. We then conducted a mixed methods study to examine HSC professionals’ FFP in adult mental health and children’s services from multiple perspectives (i.e. HSC professionals and service users).

This involved administering a survey to measure FFP. The total final sample of HSC professionals taking part in the current study (number (n) = 868) was derived from all five HSC Trusts and included professionals from both adult mental health and children’s social care services.  We then conducted in-depth interviews with HSC professionals (n = 30) and service users (n = 21), in adult mental health and children’s services, to obtain their perspectives of (1) the nature and scope of HSC professionals’ FFP with parents, who have mental illness, their children and families, (2) enablers and barriers of FFP and (3) future potential developments in FFP.

What did we find and outcomes?

While Think Family NI is a widely recognised initiative within some parts of the HSC system, levels of knowledge and understanding of FFP are variable and patchy. Overall, survey findings indicate that HSC professionals report low levels of FFP. Individual interviews highlighted the complexities of HSC professionals’ FFP, particularly when delivering services to families with multiple adversities. Interviews also highlighted variation in initial family assessments, with focus, depth/ comprehensiveness and family involvement varying across disciplines, sectors and services. In particular, those working within in-patient or clinic based adult mental health services predominantly engaged with parents to identify issues, whilst those working within community based services seemed to actively engage both parents and child(ren) where possible.

Recommendations from the study underpin the Think Family NI Action Plan, which will be used by Directors of H&SC services across the five Trusts to develop a whole family approach to services.

Add links/URLs to external pages, e.g., study webpage, reports, publications etc.

http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/ or http://www.cypsp.org/regionalsubgroups/think-family/

Any other relevant information