Target population: Parents and children all key stages

Number of parents: 6-8 parents + their children

Duration: 2 hours per week delivery for 12 weeks plus planning time plus 2 further sessions, one for target setting and one for evaluation

Evaluation tools used to measure impact: Pupil, parent and Teacher meeting pre group to target set and interview post group

School to provide:Referral and consent form, Suitable room and Refreshments, Childcare if needed, Co-leader for the duration of the programme

Multi Family Groups in schools model offers accessible, psychological support to children who are disruptive, hyperactive, impulsive, anxious, depressed, have erratic school attendance or experience social difficulties. The aim is to improve emotional, mental health-related and academic outcomes for children and young people with these complex problems by sharing experiences with other families.

Multi Family Groups in schools rely on a rich partnership being formed between the Caritas worker and a teacher. The skills and knowledge exchange afforded through their working together enables the best of mental health practice and teaching and learning to be combined to ensure that the children, young people and their families attending the groups benefit.

Multi Family Groups in schools are designed to give children who are frequently at risk of exclusion access to psychological and therapeutic help whilst working with their families. By introducing the Multi Family Groups model within schools, support is provided to both the young person and their family within the non-stigmatising environment of the school.

Delivery of the model aims to: