How to apply
Places on this course are funded centrally through NHS England. Access to the places on the course are coordinated by NHSE who liaise with training leads or Chief Psychological Therapies Officers within each NHS trust . If you are interested in the course, please contact either the training lead / Chief Psychological Therapies Officer in your trust or the family interventions lead if you have one. They can advise on eligibility, local funding arrangements and the application process. If you are unsure who your training lead is, please contact the Meriden Family Programme: [email protected]
About the course
Psychological therapies for people with severe mental health problems are a key part of the integrated offer for adults, as set out in the 2019 NHS Long-Term Plan. The Mental Health Implementation Plan (2019) and subsequent Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults (2019), provide a framework to ensure services are integrated, place-based and designed to meet specific local need.
For those experiencing severe and/or complex mental health problems, the Framework advocates the provision of NICE-recommended psychological therapies and views these as critical in giving people the best chance to get better and to stay well. A national curriculum was agreed for family intervention training based on the best available evidence (Health Education England HEE 2020). Funding to commission courses was initially made available through Health Education England (HEE). Courses are now funded through NHS England (NHSE).
The Meriden Family Programme is one of only four training providers commissioned to deliver across England and is offering a 12-month training programme via Microsoft Teams to staff working in community adult or older adult services. The training will equip practitioners with the skills to deliver evidence-based face-to-face Family Intervention (FI) sessions, as well as remote working where necessary.
I have enjoyed the course – feel I have the knowledge and skills to start working with my families.
— A delegate
It was useful to reflect on the past sessions and formulate what we had learnt.
— A delegate
Always clear and given time to absorb the learning, great resources shared.
— A delegate
Information insightful and I have new perspectives on how to adapt BFT depending on the persons needs.
— A delegate
Feedback on the course from previous a previous delegate can be found here: Review of our Family Intervention for Psychosis & Bipolar Course – Meriden Family Programme
Important note
This programme of training is specifically linked with the Community Mental Health Transformation agenda. The existing Meriden Family Programme 5-day training programme will remain valid and will run in parallel to the new HEE commissioned training. For existing BFT trainers and supervisors, any training plans and supervision provided should continue.
The Meriden Family Programme will be involved in on-going discussions with HEE and others regarding developing standards for CMHTs in the future and will keep current trainers and supervisors informed about these.
Who is the training aimed at and what is included?
Upskilling the adult and older adult community mental health workforce is central to the strategy to improve timely access to a range of evidence-based psychological therapies, including FI. Applications will be considered from individuals who meet all of the following requirements. Participants should be:
- Registered health care professionals with a core mental health profession including mental health nurses, allied health professionals, social workers, psychiatrists, and psychological professionals.
- Working in secondary care community adult or older adult mental health services and should have at least two years’ experience of working with psychosis and bipolar disorder.
- Able to work with a minimum of 2 families during the course.
- Able to commit to 10 taught days and 12 supervision sessions over a 12 month period.
- Fully backed by their host organisation.
Those without a core profession (including peer workers or support workers) may also attend the training and gain the qualification but would be expected to work alongside a qualified mental health professional as a co-therapist when delivering family interventions.
Will the training be online or face-to face?
The training will be delivered online via Microsoft Teams. This will include all induction, pre-course/additional meetings, taught days and supervision throughout the duration of the course.
What does the training include?
This course covers both the theory and practice of Behavioural Family Therapy (BFT). Participants on the course will be introduced to theoretical aspects of the approach, and to the similarities and differences between BFT and other evidence-based psychosocial and psychoeducational approaches to working with families under stress.
The first half of the training will consist of participants learning the skills which constitute the BFT approach, with specific emphasis on the application of the model for those experiencing Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder. These skills are taught in a very practical way. Participants will be expected to bring material from their own caseloads to work on throughout the course.
Additional topics covered on the course include the provision of carer psychoeducation and support, developing a family sensitive organisation and the supervision of others in the application of BFT for Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder. The training does not cover the skills required to become a trainer in BFT but will cover models of clinical supervision and staff support.
What are the course requirements?
Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to meet the above course requirements and have full backing from their host organisation.
Applicants must have the ability to work clinically with families for the duration of the course and be in a position to supervise others following completion of the training. Assessment will be undertaken through a combination of observation, assignments and case studies.
