Understanding the process of family group conferencing in public mental health care: A multiple case study
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
The British Journal of Social Work
Publisher
Oxford University Press
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
RAS ID
23989
Abstract
From 2011 until 2013, forty-one family group conferences were organised for clients in a public mental health care (PMHC) setting in the north of the Netherlands. In total, 312 semi-structured interviews were done out of a possible number of 473 Family Group Conferencing (FGC) participants. A multiple case study brought four dynamics to the surface on the process of FGC in PMHC: (i) overcoming resistance, breaking through isolation, sharing shameful feelings and grievances; (ii) you’ll change for your mother, not for professionals; (iii) the complex role of FGC coordinators; and (iv) professionals who can resist the temptation to take over. To understand these dynamics, the role of the social network as ‘shock absorbers’ and the necessity of a collaboration between FGC coordinators and professionals are further explored. Eventually, the impact of FGC on the client’s quality of life is influenced by four factors, namely if: (i) clients are willing to invite and extend their social network; (ii) clients and their network are willing to share shameful feelings and grievances; (iii) there is mutual trust between clients and FGC coordinators and (iv) professionals reinforce the self-direction of the group and prevent clients from falling back into individual care trajectories.
DOI
10.1093/bjsw/bcx037
Access Rights
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Comments
de Jong, G., Schout, G., & Abma, T. (2017). Understanding the process of family group conferencing in public mental health care: A multiple case study. The British Journal of Social Work, 48(2), 353-370. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcx037