Factors associated with adult mental health and children’s social care professionals’ family-focused practice when parents have mental illness

While family focused practice can improve outcomes for families affected by parental mental illness, globally there is limited understanding regarding associated factors and enablers. This mixed methods study aimed to identify associated factors and enablers of family focused practice. A range of adult mental health and children’s social care professionals in Northern Ireland completed the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire (n = 868). The survey measured the extent of professionals’ family focused behaviours (Referral; Psycho–Education; and Skills and Knowledge to support parent and their parenting) and four organizational (e.g. Workplace Support) and four individual professional factors (e.g. Connectedness) associated with these activities. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional research was adhered to. Nested regressions identified nine factors associated with family focused practice; most significant were professionals’ gender, professional discipline, years of experience, training in the Family Model and other training in child or family focused practice. Male professionals, social workers and those with more years of experience and who had received training in the Family Model and other training in child and family focused practice were most family focused. Subsequently 30 professionals and 21 service users participated in semi-structured interviews to elaborate on factors associated with family focused practice. Both professionals and service users described the importance of family focused training while social workers more often discussed receiving the training and engaging in family focused practice than other disciplines. As clear skill, knowledge, and confidence differences are indicated between the professions they require consideration by organizations in developing training, policy and initiatives to promote FFP within adult mental health and children’s social services in Northern Ireland and internationally.