The Bouverie Centre promotes Family Sensitive Practice as a values-based framework for promoting constructive family involvement at all levels in the delivery of mental health care. FaST (Family Sensitive Training) is an approach and set of resources developed by the Bouverie Centre aimed at increasing the sensitivity of mental health services to families.
The concept of Family Sensitive Practice is evolving over time. It has been defined in the following ways:
- a range of practices that privilege notions of appropriate and respectful family involvement in clinical management and treatment’ (Furlong, et al, 1991)
- ‘any work role that is performed in a way that is inclusive, understanding and respectful to families and other carers, including their social and cultural role’ (Young, 1998)
- ‘the embodiment of a culture that collaboratively considers all family members in the impact and treatment of mental illness’ (Young, Riess, O’Hanlon and Farhall 2004).
At the heart of the concept is the idea that everyone involved in providing mental health care (practitioners, receptionists, managers) can perform their role in a manner that is mindful and responsive to the needs of families.
In our view Family Sensitive Practice can only be fully achieved when addressed at multiple levels, as reflected in the acronym AMOS:
- Attitudes - that are sensitive to family members
- Models - of understanding and practice that are family sensitive
- Organisational processes - that enable family involvement in services at all levels
- Skills - Practitioners need specific skills to constructively involve families in care and treatment.
For more information about this, see Seven Principles of Family Sensitive Practice and Assumptions of Family Sensitive Practice
FaST is training and support resources developed by The Bouverie Centre to assist mental health services and practitioners to operate and practice in ways that are more respectful and inclusive of families. The most comprehensive FaST program is called The Get Together FaST Training and Service Development Initiative.
Further FaST training is available on specialised topics and can be tailored tospecific programs, such as Crisis Teams or Mobile Support & Treatment Teams. The Bouverie Centre is currently developing a set of core and advanced competencies in Family Sensitive Practice with accompanying training and practice support resources.
See our training and consultation resources page for further details or contact Brendan O’Hanlon either on 9385 5100 or via email at b.o’hanlon@latrobe.edu.au.
