Exploring children’s disability network team practitioners’ attitudes, perceptions and experiences of family-centred practices in the implementation of individual family service plans

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to enhance understanding of Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) implementation within Ireland’s Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), focusing on the Family-Centred Practice (FCP) model of service delivery. Drawing upon the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), the research explores barriers and facilitators of successful IFSP implementation within CDNTs. While research on FCP models and IFSP implementation in Ireland is limited, most international studies focused on early intervention services in the United States for children aged 0-3. Methods: Using a mixed-methods, sequential explanatory design, practitioners from CDNTs (n = 112) completed an online survey, including the newly developed IFSP Attitudes (IFSP-A) and IFSP Perceptions (IFSP-P) scales. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subset of practitioners (n = 11). Quantitative data underwent internal reliability assessment and descriptive and inferential statistics, including Wilcoxon signed ranked tests. Thematic analysis was utilised for qualitative data, guided by the CFIR. Results: Significant disparities emerged between practitioners’ attitudes towards FCP importance and perceptions of actual IFSP implementation across all five essential IFSP elements, assessed through 22 pairs of items using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Qualitatively, nine themes were identified regarding the factors influencing CDNT practitioners’ experiences of IFSP implementation. Implications: These findings illuminate the current state of IFSP implementation in CDNTs, providing insights into the barriers and facilitators practitioners encounter when implementing the FCP model. Notably, this research is highly relevant within the context of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (PDS) initiative in Ireland. Launched in 2013, PDS has led to the gradual establishment of CDNTs, with most implementation occurring as recently as 2021. Under the PDS initiative, all CDNTs are mandated to operate under the FCP model of service delivery and implement IFSPs for each child and young person with complex needs and their family accessing services.