Together to Thrive is a project taking a collaborative approach to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children with neuro-developmental needs.
It is based on a ‘task sharing’ model of delivery, redirecting support from specialist mental health services to community-based settings.
Together to Thrive operates within three Dundee locality wards, with plans to expand to all schools in Dundee.
The aims of the project are to:
- enhance collaboration between Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs)
- improve accessibility to specialist support
- enable families to feel more supported
- increase confidence of community-based organisations in supporting families with their children’s needs
- create a Dundee Framework for a Task Sharing Approach
At its heart Together to Thrive aims to improve whole family wellbeing by ensuring that families can access skilled help from community-based practitioners in a timely way.
Together to Thrive has already made a significant difference to our lives... The project has given us practical advice that we never had access to previously... There is still a long way to go and we continue to face new and daily challenges, but we now feel like there is light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel.
About task-sharing
The task-sharing approach was first developed in low to middle-income countries in response to the significant gap between the need for mental health support and the availability of specialist services. The model was later adopted and adapted by Thrive NYC as part of their multi-million-pound investment into public mental health.
Task sharing builds on community organisations and mental health providers’ strengths and helps both to take on important new roles so they can meet the needs of the community, build the skills and confidence of community-based staff to deliver evidence-informed interventions and develop and strengthen new referral pathways.
Through using this task-sharing approach, Together to Thrive offers community-based practitioners the opportunity to learn from CAMHS teams and aligned experts to enhance their knowledge, skills and confidence in the following areas: sleep, sensory awareness, trauma-informed practice, positive behaviour support and reflective parenting.
Working in partnership
Together to Thrive requires strong collaboration between partners who come together with the common aim of better supporting children, young people and families.
This project is overseen by the Mental Health Foundation, in collaboration with the Dundee Flexible Child & Family Support Cross-Sector Alliance and NHS Tayside Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
An initial 18-month feasibility study was funded by the above organisations (including monies from The Promise). Together to Thrive successfully secured additional funding from the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund in September 2023, which will enable the project to develop and embed until 2026.
Further Information
The project is currently working in partnership with: Barnardo’s, Dundee Carers Centre, One-Parent Families Scotland, Relationships Scotland Tayside and Fife, Dundee City Council Adoption and Fostering Service, NHS Tayside School Nursing Service, Speech and Language Communication Company and Dundee Women’s Aid.
For information contact Jacqui Paton, Project Manager [email protected]