Newham Early Start - Understanding and Working with Family Mental Health (March 2025)

We worked in consultation with Early Start to develop and deliver a bespoke one-day practice-based program to the whole staff team within the Family Contact Centre.

The session was designed to provide an interactive and reflective session which created opportunities for discussions and group activities to apply learning to practice in a skills-based and operational way. This enabled the team to update their knowledge, reflect together on their day-to-day practice and create opportunities for peer learning and support. The impact of which would improve engagement with families and increase staff’s confidence in working with family mental health, whilst also considering trauma informed practice, the impact on themselves and the importance of self-care and supporting the workforce. 

 Learning outcomes from the day included:

• To gain understanding of the impact mental health can have within families
• To improve awareness in recognising possible triggers and signs
• To develop skills to promote engagement and work in a relationship-based way
• To feel more confident working with family mental health

Learner Feedback included:

• Training provided relevant information which could be used in practice but also allowed the opportunity to think about how to be a reflective practitioner and look after self 
• Recognise that the importance of positive interactions/relationships can help make a positive impact, despite families presenting with difficult experiences & issue
• I will be more conscious of how my body language can affect the way I am perceived
• I will take time to reflect on the sessions and be available for my supervisors who may need support
• I will be more reflective in my practice and I will ensure I make people feel heard when they need to be
• Be mindful not to misunderstand people’s behaviours
• Try and put myself in other people’s positions so I can identify any issues or triggers and to also be more understanding, empathetic to other people’s needs
• Relationships are important and first impressions count. Therefore, I will make my start positive where possible – positive check in etc
• I will be more receptive and empathic with the families that I work with
• Self awareness – the small things can make the big difference