Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network

July 2008 Newsletter

A lot of news to report this time. The Keeping the Family in Mind day was very worthwhile. It certainly gave a picture of strong Government commitment to change.

Family Intervention Projects

That was reflected in the publication last week of research into Family Intervention Projects which suggested positive achievements from the Projects’ approach in combating antisocial behaviour. At a time when good news is hard to come by for the Government these results must have been very welcome.

Training Programmes

The request for help with developing training programmes to link with the dissemination of the SCIE/NICE guidelines drew a great response from Network members. A group is now meeting to consider the best approach. The guidelines themselves are now thought likely to be published early in 2009 but the five identified pilot sites - Liverpool, Birmingham, Lewisham, Southwark and North Somerset- will provide us with some indicators of how best to spread the message.

Care Programme Approach

November will see the launch of the Mental Health Act. The new guidance on the Care Programme approach should help to ensure that the needs of the family are better reflected in practice. A group from the Network is meeting DH officials in the next couple of weeks to discuss how training and guidance on the new Act can help to reinforce these messages so that children’s needs are not obscured by the problems of a parent.

Study Day date for Diary

And we have chosen November 10 th as the date for our next Study Day. The theme will be new developments in thinking about the family including recent research reports and evaluations. It will be in Birmingham so put the date in your diary now! Further details of the programme and booking arrangements in a few weeks.