A unique regional Family Interventions training programme

Abstract

Purpose This paper describes the University of Exeter Family Interventions (FI) training programme for the South West region which was commissioned as part of the NHS England Access & Waiting Times (A&WTS) initiative for early psychosis. This programme (10 taught days and 6-months of supervised practice) is designed to maximise implementation in practice. Approach The programme introduces students to a flexible, widely applicable FI approach which integrates cognitive behavioural/ psychoeducational and systemic approaches. It refreshes and develops CBT based psychosocial intervention skills so that clinicians feel confident to use them in family sessions and integrates these with foundation level family therapy skills. The approach facilitates engagement and it is designed so that every session is a ‘mini intervention’. This enables clinicians to offer standard NICE-concordant family interventions or a briefer intervention if this is sufficient to meet the particular needs of a family. Findings This paper provides details of the regional training programme and evaluates the first four training courses delivered to nine Early Intervention in Psychosis teams. It considers how a combination of training a critical mass of staff in each service, ongoing supervision, regional events to maintain skills and motivation to deliver FI, and the national and regional auditing of family intervention as part of the A&WTS all contribute to clinical implementation. Originality/value The unique design of this programme maximises implementation in practice by virtue of its widely applicable integrated FI approach, the focus on ongoing skills development and by embedding it within regional and local service support structures.