Bringing key community stakeholders and MST teams together for a good cause
Anyone who has ever arranged a fundraiser or event of more than four people knows there is a lot of planning and work involved. Probably more than what you might expect. So MST Northamptonshire was discovered.
In early 2015, it was decided that the two MST Northamptonshire teams would host the MST Midlands Network Event. Meetings across the U.K. Network Partnership bring together key stakeholders and MST programs to enhance community collaboration. Thus began the process of organizing venues, speakers, and presentations.
“Long term outcomes—Achieving the holy grail” soon became our theme.
We wanted to achieve 360-degree feedback from those who have been involved with the MST program in Northamptonshire either as a family or local professional. Our initial aim was to develop an occasion that was engaging for all and had “something different” when it came to families taking part.
Planning starts
We began the serious (and intensive) planning in May. As you might imagine, the demands of organizing and coordinating an undertaking of this size were enormous and involved many meetings and discussions.
We were delighted to receive notice that Lori Moore from MST Services would be attending and delivering a presentation on the program from the international perspective, her only U.K. network appearance in 2015.
The day itself started well with the opening speaker, Northamptonshire Social Care’s strategic manager, discussing the positive impact and results that MST Northamptonshire is delivering across the county.
We chose to focus on Northamptonshire outcome data since the service started in January 2013, specifically, young people living at home, in school/work, and out of trouble (no criminal charges/convictions). We looked back on data collected over the previous two-and-half years, at 12 months before MST involvement, at case discharge, and at six, 12, and 18 months after MST closure.
How agencies find working with MST
Then it was the turn of our community agencies to get involved. We asked a representative from social care, youth offending services, and a nearby school to present their views on working with MST. Each gave a five-minute case study of how they worked with MST and the impact the program had on their young people and families.
Then came interview recordings. These were feedbacks from families who had been discharged from MST more than 12 months ago. Each family’s story highlighted not only the work they had done during their time with MST but equally important, how they used the MST sustainability plan, which kept them going when hurdles arrived after therapy.
We had a wide variety of professionals in attendance, and it was really positive to hear the way in which they have worked with MST therapists to achieve positive long-term results for families.
We had a unique opportunity to hear from James Folwer, supervisor of the Cambridgeshire MST team, Brigitte Squire, program manager, and Zoe Ashmore, MST expert on the MST-SA Enhancements. James gave us several great examples of cases where the use of SA Enhancements with Contingency Management has been effective in their community.
Closing out the day, there was an interactive exercise asking delegates to identify important elements when it comes to achieving successful outcomes for their agency and any barriers or challenges they observed.
Having fed and watered the attendees, we packed them off to the various points across the Midlands full of shared ideas and enthusiasm.
And for us, after an intense few months, it was time to get back to what we do best, helping families. Oh, and yes, those TAM-Rs, aka therapist adherence measurements.
