Government documents: getmedia/acd9dc85-f452-45e0-8957-3c5bd742df66/Details-of-Solihull-Approach-Validation-in-Government-documents.aspx

Commissioning Toolkit - a searchable online database of parenting programmes and approaches: http://www.commissioningtoolkit.org/

The Solihull Approach in Kent: http://camhs.org/solihull-approach/workshop-23-march-2010.html


The Solihull Approach was cited as good practice in the Department of Health's and the Department for Education's 'Information Sharing in the Foundation Years' report.

"At Bowthorpe Children's Centre in Norfolk the health visiting team is fully integrated with the Children's Centre and managed by the Centre Leader, who is a social worker. Children, parents and families who are most likely to benefit from additional or intensive support are often first identified in the context of the universal health visiting service, and then offered the most appropriate package of support through the multidisciplinary team. The whole team is trained in the Solihull Approach, so there is a coherent approach, and a strong, shared language which has enabled a freeing up of roles, a shared professional identity and created the ability to challenge others, and change and create thinking and practice. The centre was judged outstanding by Ofsted."

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2013/11/Good_Practice_Support_in_Information_Sharing.pdf

'Containment and Reciprocity: integrating psychoanalytic theory and child development research for work with children' Douglas, H. (2007) London: Routledge

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'The Solihull Approach: changes in health visiting practice' Douglas, H. Ginty, M. (2001) Community Practitioner 2001; 74, 6: 222-224

This was the first evaluation carried out to assess the effects of the Solihull Approach on the practice of health visitors. Health Visitors in Solihull were sent a questionnaire that contained specific closed questions and multiple choice questions relating to a hypothetical case study. There were also opportunities for health visitors to provide qualitative information about their practice. The study also carried out an audit of referrals made by health visitors to the child psychology department over the previous four years.

The main findings were that it had an impact on 88% of health visitors who had received some training in using it. It improved the consistency of approach between health visitors. It did not increase the overall time required for assessment and intervention. It also showed that the use of the Solihull Approach increased the practitioners' confidence in their skills and increased their job satisfaction.

Health visitors revealed they felt they had a broader understanding of how difficulties develop.

Ninety six percent of health visitors using the Solihull Approach indicated that they found the Solihull Approach 'useful' or 'extremely useful'.

An audit of referrals to child psychology showed that although the number of referrals had not changed significantly the complexity of the referral had changed. Children with simple difficulties were no longer being referred and the referrals received suggested more complex difficulties.

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'Containment, Reciprocity and Behaviour management: Preliminary evaluation of a brief early intervention (the Solihull Approach) for families with infants and young children' Douglas, H. Brennan, A. (2004) The International Journal of Infant Observation. 2004; 7, 1: 89-107

This small scale research study was conducted to identify whether the Solihull Approach is effective. Health Visitors recruited 13 families over a six week period.

Parents and health visitors rated severity of difficulties and parental anxiety about the problem at 3 points, initiation, end of interaction and at follow up. Parents rated their own anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory at all 3 points.

Results showed over all decrease of parental anxiety of 66%.

Significant reduction in anxiety relating to the problem and problem severity decreased.

These results were replicated in a further small study with 18 families.

Health Visitors experiences of using the Solihull Approach. Douglas, H. Whitehead, R. E. (2005) Community Practitioner 2005: 78, 1:20-23.

The aim of this study was to gain an insight into health visitors' experience using the Solihull Approach.

A semi-structured interview was used to examine the effect of the Solihull Approach on three areas:

1. Clinical practice
2. Feelings about work
3. Wider service

Four health visitors were interviewed and the transcripts analysed.

Evaluation outlined how using the Solihull Approach has led to changes in practice. They described focusing more on emotions and trying to understand the story rather than rushing in and trying to solve the problem. One health visitor described this concept, "I don't go in with any strategies, I go in to listen, it is incredibly powerful".

Health visitors revealed they felt more positive about their jobs and how the Solihull Approach impacted upon referral processes and improved health visitors' working in partnership with other professionals.

The findings had implication for the development of the Solihull Approach and recommendations for future research. The findings around the need for further support are likely to be relevant in the implementation of any programme, for example, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

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'Mothers' perception of community health professional support' Maunders, H. Giles, D. and Douglas, H. (2007) Community Practitioner: Vol 80:4, 24-29

This study used qualitative methods to explore mothers' experiences of the support they received from community health professionals:

Nine mothers were interviewed and transcripts analysed. All mothers received the Solihull Approach from their health visitors. Mothers discussed support provided by their health visitors and also by other community health professionals.

The findings were pertinent to professionals who work in early childhood intervention, including those who use the Solihull Approach.

The mothers discussed how they had reached the decision to seek help for their children's difficulties and also discussed the importance of trust and understanding within their relationship with the community health professionals.

Mothers often connected a good quality relationship to a good outcome following professional input.

'A pilot evaluation study of the Solihull Approach' Milford, R., Kleve, L., Lea, J. and Greenwood, R. (2006) Community Practitioner; 79:11, 358-362

This study looked at assessing the effectiveness of the Solihull Approach compared to standard health visiting practice

Quantitative methods were uses to assess effectiveness of Solihull Approach:

Experimental (Solihull Approach) and control group (Standard Health Visiting Practice).

Results showed statistically a significant decrease in distress, parental perception of child difficulty in favour of experimental group.

Greater reduction in overall stress levels in experimental group.

Views of Solihull Approach trained health visitors more closely matched parents' view of problems than control group.

Similar results to Douglas and Brennan 2004.

Outcome of study suggested that Solihull Approach may be more effective than standard health visiting in addressing behaviour problems in young children.

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'Meeting Expectations: the Pilot Evaluation of the Solihull Approach Parenting Group' Bateston, K., Delaney, J., Pybus, R. (2006) Community Practitioner, May 2006, vol. 81, no. 5

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'Parents' evaluation of 'Understanding your child's behaviour', a Solihull Approach group for parents' Johnson, R., Wilson, H. Community Practitioner, May 2012, vol. 85, no. 5

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'Health Visitor views on consultation using the Solihull Approach: a grounded theory study' Stefanopoulou, E., Coker, S., Greenshields, M., Pratt, R. Community Practitioner, July 2011, vol. 84, no. 7

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The use of the Solihull Approach with children with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties and sleep problems: a case study' Williams, L. and Newell, R Community Practitioner86 (6) 30-33

'A service evaluation on the Solihull Approach training and practice' Moore, T., Adams, M., Pratt, R. (2013) Community Practitioner 86 (5) 26-27

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'The value of evaluating parenting groups: a new researcher's perspective on methods and results' Cabral, J. (2013)  Community Practitioner 86 (6) 30-33