Mental health professionals’ perspectives of family-focused practice across child and adult mental health settings: a qualitative synthesis

Shah-Anwar, S., Gumley, A. and Hunter, S. (2019) Mental health professionals’ perspectives of family-focused practice across child and adult mental health settings: a qualitative synthesis. Child and Youth Services, 40(4), pp. 383-404. (doi: 10.1080/0145935X.2019.1591947)

Abstract

The shift towards a family-focused approach to practice has been highly endorsed across child and adult mental health services, with increasing policy development and a growing evidence base. The aim of this review was to synthesize the qualitative evidence of professionals’ perspectives and experiences of implementing family-focused practice across these settings. Electronic databases were searched up to March 2018, with nine articles included. The synthesis produced two overarching challenges relating to the organizational and system issues of family-focused practice and clinicians’ attitudes, knowledge, and practice towards addressing the complexity of families’ needs. The findings point to a limited evidence of professionals viewing the benefits of family-focused practice and a lack of coherence relating to professionals’ investment in family-focused practice. These are discussed within policy and implementation factors.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Shah, Sadia and Gumley, Professor Andrew
• Authors: Shah-Anwar, S., Gumley, A., and Hunter, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Child and Youth Services
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0145-935X
• ISSN (Online): 1545-2298
• Published Online: 11 April 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Taylor & Francis
• First Published: First published in Child and Youth Services 40(4):383-404
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher