I Matter Practice Based Evidence - 2021-2026

     

I Matter Relationship Health Practice Based Evidence


The following is a selection of brief reports that reflect the investigative work progressed as we looked for a way to develop child and family practice that could introduce understanding of relationship health into the work of the Kendal locality, linking primary care with schools, through the role of supported social prescribing.

The initial taught 6 week intervention was described as an early intervention offer.  It was highly rated by families but unfortunately proved not financially viable within the constraints of the PCN practice and agreed project terms. 

The sheer level of unmet escalated levels of need. and system wide confusion around the issues, also leads to demand pressure for help with more complex needs that can be difficult to manage for any small service and for frontline practitioners.

So we have had to think divergently and this further work has been progressing over the last 12 months with the development of a twin track approach comprising: 
+ Entry level workshops
+ More depth online study.

As a point of interest: at the start of the early intervention project, we used an online customised tracker tool to assess baseline presentation and needs to inform a relationship health formulation.  Though we clearly described ourselves as early intervention, These consistently showed very high levels of escalation at a level which is not ordinarily considered the remit of primary care.   These were all real world issues that have taken a lot of thinking through.

Our core conclusion has been that the current culture around children's wellbeing often disempower families and communities and could only be addressed through a broader social shift in understanding.  Exisiting thinking is very deficit focussed and based on looking for someone to 'fix the child'  (held by professionals and families) and this combined with long wait lists fuels the sense that 'nothing can be done'.

I have therefore currently been working on an adapted model that is designed to focus on shifting broader cultures supporting dialogue between health, education and community services. The project for organisation partners is called 'Let's Talk Relationship Health'. 

This provides a gentle introduction to the issues, then supports professionals who are motivated to learn by progressing I Matter Fundamentals and Link training with limited microprojects which give them an opportunity to deepen their own understanding without being overcommitted in any direction..

We are moving into a new phase and this is still a work in progress!

Kendal PCN remains our first locality lead in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council Community Develpment Team for the next stage of this project.