Practitioners’ experiences of using blended models within family support: A proof of concept study involving Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Incredible Years (IY) interventions

Evidence-based models have demonstrated significant potential for improving outcome. However, it has been proposed that single-issue interventions cannot adequately address the multiple needs that some families experiences. This paper outlines a novel approach in which three evidence-based practices (Multisystemic Therapy, Incredible Years, and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy) were concurrently implemented within the same programme. The objectives are to explore the experience and perceptions of practitioners who implemented the blended model, to explore the novelty of blended approaches, to examine the extent to which families were engaged in and were retained in this programme, and compare the outcomes for families who received blended and non-blended approaches. Method: Data was collected for 158 families between March 2014 and March 2016. Thirty-one families engaged in the blended approach. To explore the feasibility, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 14 staff. Results: Not all families are in need of a blended approach, but families who experience multiple complexities may benefit more from this type of approach. From the perspective of practitioners, blended models provide an opportunity to address multiple needs within the family. However, there are implementation challenges that could be explored further.