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Systemic Family Practice in CAMHS

Module description

Applying evidence-based psychological therapies to children, young people and their families requires fundamental academic knowledge and clinical skills together with a reflective approach to practice. This module delivers the Department of Health’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies national curriculum of specific knowledge and skills you will need in order to deliver effective Systemic Family Practice with children, young people and parents. You will explore how session-by-session measurement and routine outcome monitoring are fundamental components of effective practice.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module you will develop your knowledge, skills and competency in Systemic Family Practice (SFP) for children, young people and families. You will develop the knowledge and core competencies required to be an effective SFP practitioner, as determined by the relevant national curriculum for the CYP IAPT Programme (Systemic Work with Families – Basic Module).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Synthesise theory and practice in planning, delivering and reflecting on systemic family practice for children, young people and families, as determined by the Systemic Work with Families – Basic Module national curriculum
• 2. Apply the specific core competencies in SFP for children, young people and families
• 3. Identify how you meet the relevant national specific competency standards in SFP for children, young people and families
• 4. Evaluate the use of routine outcome monitoring in SFP practice

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Address systematically complex therapy practice problems that may be framed within unpredictable contexts, thinking critically, creatively, and independently
• 6. Critique the wider ethical and professional issues encountered within psychological therapy practice

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Appraise your personal strengths and weaknesses in training and experience, and reflect upon the implications for your further training needs
• 8. Function independently and reflectively as a learner and practitioner

Syllabus plan

This module is taught through ten workshops plus supervision days in term one. Topics derived from the CYP-IAPT national curriculum Basic Module for Systemic Work with Families will form the core content of the workshops. Teaching will combine didactic teaching, small group work, role play and observation of therapy. There will be an emphasis on relating learning to clinical practice.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Five assessments are required for this module. In all cases re-assessment will be the same as the original assessment. Where you have been referred/deferred for any form of assessment detailed above you will have the opportunity to retake as specified above, except for the portfolio competency assessment where you will have the opportunity to retake within 12 weeks from the date that feedback was provided, subject to additional clinical supervision as necessary.

If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of deferral, your re-assessment will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment and the overall module mark will not be capped.

If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), the overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

If you fail re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), you will be failed in the module and as a consequence you will be failed in the programme and your registration as a student of the University will be terminated.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Child IAPT National curriculum for systemic practice with families (2013). London: Department of Health
• Dallos, R. and Draper, R. (2010) An introduction to family therapy and systemic practice. Buckingham: OUP.
• Day, R. (2010) Introduction to family processes. New York: Routledge.
• Rivett, M. and Street, E. (2009) Family therapy: 100 key ideas and techniques. London: Routledge.
• Rivett, M and Street, E. (2003) Family therapy in focus. London: Sage.
• Smith-Acuna, S. (2011) Systemic theory in action. New Jersey: Wiley and Sons.
• Sprenkle, D. and Piercy, F. (2005) Research methods in family therapy. New York: Guilford.
• Gehart, D. (2010) Mastering competencies in family therapy. Belmont CA; Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
• Patterson, J.; Williams, L.; Edwards, T.; Chamow, L and Grauf-Grounds, C. (2009) Essential skills in family therapy. New York: Guilford.
• Pilling, S.; Roth, A. and Stratton, P. (2010) The competencies required to deliver effective systemic therapies http://www.ucl.ac.uk/clinical-psychology/CORE/systemic_framework.htm
• Stanton, M. and Welsh, R. (2011) Speciality competencies in couple and family psychology. New York: Oxford University Press
• Williams, L.; Edwards, T.; Patterson, J. and Chamow, L. (2011) Essential assessment skills for couple and family therapy. New York; Guilford

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

All resources will be made available on ELE. This includes additional material covered in the tutorials, the required readings, information about assessment and additional material (e.g., videos).

Other resources: DVD/audio competency clips from IAPT and University of Exeter teaching team.

Key words search

Supervision, young people, children, improving access to psychological therapies, IAPT, cognitive behavioural therapy, parenting, competency assessment