The Tresillian Model of Care

The Tresillian Model of Care (1) whenever possible, has drawn on existing beliefs and values, in particular the Tresillian mission, philosophy, vision and roles. Additional work has been completed to identify practice principles (2) that clearly guide staff to implement the Model of Care and provide a framework for practice evaluation.

These practice principles are used to guide the development of new services, programs, policies and documentation.

The following diagram demonstrates the relationship of the Tresillian Model of Care (which is the existing Tresillian mission, values, philosophy and role), practice principles and Tresillian services and programs.

Mission Statement

Tresillian’s mission is to optimise the health and wellbeing of families with babies and young children.

Our Values

The values held by Tresillian are the underlying principles for all our services which include:

• Excellence,
• Compassion,
• Respect,
• Loyalty and
• Integrity.

Tresillian’s Philosophy

Tresillian believes in the value of the family as a means of establishing individual identity and promoting the development of healthy individuals. Each family is treated as a unique entity.

One of Tresillian’s basic beliefs is that the infant and young child has essential needs met in an effectively functioning family. Tresillian believes in the inherent right of a child to grow within a healthy, nurturing environment and that the family and community are responsible for providing means for achieving this right.

In order to promote the role of the family and community, Tresillian believes that the organisation exists to provide specialist support and care, when required, to those family and community members regardless of beliefs, social circumstances or culture. Tresillian is committed to enhancing quality and the continuity of care through networking, liaison and cross referral.

It is also the belief of Tresillian that the health and welfare of the staff employed by the organisation are of the utmost importance and that these staff should be given the maximum support to expand their knowledge and skills.

Our Role

Tresillian’s role is:

• To work towards the promotion of Tresillian as a Centre of Excellence in child (0-5 years) and family health.
• To provide holistic family care within a primary health care framework through a range of services responsive to community needs. Primary health care includes specialised nursing care, medical support, psycho-social interventions, family advocacy, health promotion and clinical assessment of the growth and development of infants and young children.
• To provide child & family health education and associated resources in child and family health to health professionals and the community.
• To develop Tresillian’s advocacy and research role.

Practice Principles

The following practice principles are the core component of the Tresillian Model of Care providing a framework for all aspects of practice. These practice principles also provide criteria to evaluate services and programs against.

Strengths-based

Interactions focus on and promote the strengths and attributes of the family, parent and child. Interactions between Tresillian staff reflect and facilitate a strengths-based approach.

Flexible

The needs of each child and family are recognised and responded to in a flexible manner. Staff members work in a flexible manner with their colleagues while ensuring it does not adversely impact on service provision.

Self-efficacy

Staff interactions with families, parents and children, and other staff members aim to promote the development of self-efficacy and a sense of competence and capability. Self-efficacy is recognised as a predictor of positive practices by parents, children and staff.

Social connectedness

Parents are supported and encouraged to connect with appropriate community supports. This social connectedness enhances parenting capacity. Staff are supported and encouraged to network internally with other Tresillian staff and externally with appropriate professional and community organisations at a local, state, national and international level.

Partnership

Relationships between Tresillian staff members, families, communities and other professionals are underpinned by an approach that facilitates a partnership. This partnership recognises the importance of fundamental concepts of trust, respect, honesty and collaboration.

Attachment-focussed

Interventions focus on enhancing the child and parent attachment relationship in recognition that the quality of this relationship is a major predictor of long-term outcomes for the child.

Child-focussed

Work with families is focussed on achieving better outcomes for children through facilitating and strengthening the relationship between the child and parent(s).

Equity

Tresillian staff will promote equitable access for all children and their families. Tresillian management will promote equitable access to employment, support and education.

Early Intervention

Whenever possible Tresillian takes an early intervention approach assisting parents identify potential protective and risk factors, and appropriate intervention and support strategies.

Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is achieved through:

• Supporting staff implement their skills appropriately and to the best of their knowledge and abilities
• Encouraging self-evaluation of performance
• Providing an opportunity for the development of additional skills and ideas
• Providing a forum to explore complex or challenging situations

Allowing debriefing and reflection following critical incidents.

Best Practice

Tresillian staff [strive to] ensure they use management, clinical and education best practice drawing on current research, expert opinion and practice evaluation. This is achieved by working with the “best available evidence modified by patient [parent/family] circumstances and preferences, is applied to improve the quality of clinical judgements” (The Centre for Clinical Effectiveness 2005).

Quality

Quality underpins all Tresillian services and activities. All Tresillian staff are encouraged to participate in continuous quality improvement practices in their everyday work.

References

Centre for Community Child Health N.D. Practice indicators for family-centred partnerships in early childhood education and care settings, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne.

Davies, H., Day, C. & Bidmead.C 2002, Working in Partnership with Parents: The Parent Advisor Model, The Psychological Corporation, London.

NSW Health (draft), 2006, Supporting Families Early Policy, NSW Health, North Sydney.

Schön, D 1983, The reflective practitioner: How practitioners think in action, Basic Books, New York.

The Centre for Clinical Effectiveness, 2005, Evidence-Based Answers to Clinical Questions for Busy Clinicians, Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Melbourne.