A service evaluation of the Solihull Approach training and practice

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Social Work Practice
• Professional Development

Background:

• The Solihull Approach (SA) is a framework for parent-child relationships.
• SA training has expanded beyond health visitors (HVs) to diverse professionals.
• Prior research supports SA's effectiveness when delivered by HVs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and administer an 18-item questionnaire based on Ottmann's themes.
• To assess the utility of SA training among a broad sample of professionals.
• To compare SA training experiences between HVs and family support workers.

Main Methods:

• Developed an 18-item questionnaire from Ottmann's themes.
• Administered the questionnaire to a large, diverse sample of SA-trained professionals.
• Compared questionnaire scores between health visitors and family support workers.

Main Results:

• Both health visitors and family support workers found SA training beneficial for client work.
• Participants reported SA training enhanced their multidisciplinary team collaboration.
• Managerial support, supervision, and consultation were identified as key implementation factors.

Conclusions:

• The Solihull Approach training is perceived as valuable across different professional groups.
• Effective implementation of SA requires robust organizational support structures.
• Further discussion is needed regarding SA theory in practice.