Maternal mental illness is a major public health issue and can adversely affect the whole family. Increasingly, research and policy are recognizing the benefits of a family-focused approach to practice, an approach that emphasizes the family as the unit of care. This review was conducted with the aim of systematically analyzing the qualitative literature surrounding health visitors’ family-focused practice with mothers who have mental illness and/or substance misuse. Through the synthesis, we developed three main findings: (a) parents’ needs regarding health visitors’ family-focused practice, (b) the ambiguity of mental illness in health visiting, and (c) the challenges of family-focused practice in health visiting. Above all, health visitors, families, and mothers with mental illness experience many challenges in family-focused practice, even though it is both desirable and beneficial. This calls for a deeper understanding of how family-focused practice can be effectively practiced in health visiting.

Worldwide maternal mental illness poses a major public health issue. Supporting maternal mental health and family health is a core aspect of home visiting. Increasingly the benefits of family focused treatments to maternal mental illness are being recognised. However, there are few reliable and valid measures that attempt to assess this type of practice. To explore the psychometric properties of the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire in a population of home visitors. Home visitors (n = 230) from across a single region of the United Kingdom completed the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire. Participants were all females, had a mean age of 44 years, and had an average of 11 years’ experience of home visiting. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the factor structure of the questionnaire in this population while Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of questionnaire subscales. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 3-factor solution where each factor contained at least three questionnaire items and had eigenvalues ≥ 1.0. Checks for internal consistency revealed that one factor was unsatisfactory (α < 0.6), which was subsequently discarded. A further exploratory factor analysis supported a 2 factor solution. The factors were named: professional influences on family focused practice and organisational influences on family focused practice. Cronbach’s alpha for the new scale was 0.949. As home visitors play a key role in supporting parents who have mental illness and their families, it is important to assess their practice using a reliable measure. Our psychometric evaluation has created a more valid, reliable and concise measure that can be used to examine home visitors’ family focused practice.

Background: Children and young people living in and leaving care are known to have experienced significant childhood adversity and trauma resulting in potentially deleterious impact on their health and well‐being across the life course. Studies point to the complex needs of this population who may benefit from allied health professional (AHP)‐related support with limited studies located. This review sought to address this gap by systematically scoping empirical literature focused on the provision of AHP support to this cohort of children and young adults to assist an understanding of the service needs for this vulnerable population.Methods: This scoping review followed Arskey and O′Malley's five steps framework (2005) to identify and review relevant literature. A focus on identifying the evidence, challenges and gaps in research relating to AHP support for children and young people living in and leaving care was initially agreed, followed by a systematic search using a combination of three key concepts to identify relevant studies in five AHP disciplinary areas to identify best evidence in the past decade (2011–2021). Study inclusion criteria were based on empirical studies of children and young people living in care (0–17 years) and leaving care (18–25 years). A data extraction table was formulated as a means of charting the data, aligned with the scope and objectives of this review. Finally, data were subsequently collated, synthesised and reported based on key thematic areas emerging from included studies regarding AHP support to children and young people living in and leaving care.Results: A total of 13 studies met the review inclusion criteria. Included studies reported specifically on speech and language therapist (SLT; n = 5), occupational therapist (OT; n = 3) and arts‐based therapies (n = 5). No studies were identified with regard to the use of physiotherapy and dietetics with this population. Results indicated that children and young people living in and leaving care have high rates of speech, language, communication and sensory needs. More rigorous screening, assessment and early intervention were identified as essential for this vulnerable group. Increased multidisciplinary collaboration and OT support for young adults in preparation for transition to independent living was identified as an urgent requirement. Included studies indicate promising results in relation to access to arts‐based therapies with particular reference to identity formation for children and young people living in and leaving care.Conclusions: Although evidence of effectiveness remains limited, AHP service provision (specifically speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and arts‐based therapies) has the potential to contribute positively to addressing the complex and interacting needs of this vulnerable population. As a result, it is recommended that AHP service provision is integrated into the collaborative, multidisciplinary care available to children living in and leaving care. More extensive, higher quality research related to the benefits of AHP provision for this population of children and young people is essential to provide a more robust evidence base across the various professional disciplines that constitute allied health provision.

(2019). A multi-perspective exploration of health visitors’ family focused practice with mothers who have mental illness and their families: a mixed methods study protocol. Advances in Mental Health. Ahead of Print.

BackgroundBrain Injury Case management involves coordinating and organizing services and systems around people with acquired brain injuries' and their families. This review aimed to answer the question: What is the current available evidence for the use of case management in supporting survivors of ABI?MethodsSearches were conducted in seven databases (Medline (all), CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed), using a search strategy based on key terms: 'case management' and 'brain injury.' Quality of studies was assessed by the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT), and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists. Findings were presented narratively.ResultsA narrative synthesis of 35 included studies highlighted the challenges of measuring and evaluating the impact of case management for brain injury, vital aspects of case management, such as good communication and relationships, supporting the wider family, and case management across the continuum of care.ConclusionsCase managers play a pivotal role in the support and rehabilitation of people with ABI. The rapid evolution of case management has resulted in some challenges, such as lack of regulatory oversight and governance, and lack of standardization in treatment approaches. Future progression requires collaboration to produce better outcomes for clients and their families.