Unit rationale, description and aim

Families account for a significant proportion of unpaid care provision and support to people experiencing mental health problems. Therefore, it is essential that mental health professionals understand and consider the conceptual and practice implications of supporting and upholding the social context within which recovery occurs.

This unit explores the relational elements of recovery and the roles that close social relationships often play in the recovery journey. It compares individualist approaches with collectivist approaches to recovery and wellbeing and examines the impact of mental illness on close social network members. Contemporary perspectives on the role of family inclusive recovery-based practice in mental health and family inclusive processes will be considered and explored. The unit will focus on the development of core practice skills relevant to family inclusive recovery based practice, including individual and family wellbeing assessment processes.

The aim of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to integrate family perspectives into their practice in order to provide holistic, person-centred and recovery-based services to consumers and support to families.

2027 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Articulate and differentiate between contemporary ...

Learning Outcome 01

Articulate and differentiate between contemporary theory and approaches to recovery and the role of families and close social networks
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC4, GC6, GC7

Apply Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice kno...

Learning Outcome 02

Apply Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice knowledge and skills to support the wellbeing and recovery of individuals, families, and members of their close social networks, and to promote the wellbeing of the network as a whole.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC4, GC6, GC11, GC12

Analyse, engage and apply Family Inclusive Recover...

Learning Outcome 03

Analyse, engage and apply Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice, knowledge and skills to shape policy and practice within contemporary mental health settings
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC4, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC11

Content

Topics will include:

Contemporary Recovery Theory and Approaches

  • Individualist and collectivist approaches to recovery based theory and practice
  • Contested perspectives on families and mental health theory, policy and practice
  • Recovery as a relational journey and the experience of individuals, families and close social networks
  • Social and cultural models of mental health and wellbeing


Family Inclusive Practice and Family Inclusive Recovery Based Practice

  • Contemporary family inclusive policy and practice
  • Contemporary models of Family Inclusive Recovery Based Practice Language, positioning and roles in supporting wellbeing and recovery
  • Core practice skills


Family Inclusive Recovery based Practice Applications:

  • Family assessment and planning
  • Applying models of Family Inclusive Recovery Based Practice within the existing policy, practice parameters, roles and settings– support work, peer mentoring, counselling, psychoeducation, therapy, diversional activities, respite, clinical support
  • Outcome evaluation and measurement

Assessment strategy and rationale

To pass this unit, students must attempt and submit both assessment tasks, demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome, and obtain a minimum mark of 50%.

The assessment strategy used allows for the progressive development of knowledge and skills necessary for the student to be able to demonstrate ethical and effective professional practice in the delivery of family inclusive, recovery-oriented mental health services. To effectively and safely implement Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice, students first demonstrate evidence of understanding the theories pertaining to family-centred and family-inclusive practice, the impact of mental ill health on families and close social networks, and contemporary models of Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice. This understanding is demonstrated through a portfolio task comprising a recorded seminar-style presentation and a written critical reflection on a practice scenario (Assessment 1, 50%; LO1, LO2, LO3). Students then apply and synthesise their learning to show how Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice knowledge and skills within an organisational context can lead to best practice in family-inclusive, recovery-oriented services through an organisational process, policy, or service context application paper (Assessment 2, 50%; LO1, LO2, LO3). 

Overview of assessments

Assessment 1: Portfolio (recorded presentation + ...

Assessment 1: Portfolio (recorded presentation + written critical reflection)

This portfolio requires students to (1) record a short seminar-style presentation that critically analyses contemporary recovery theories and approaches and the role of families and close social networks, and (2) submit a written critical reflection on a practice scenario demonstrating application of Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice.

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC4, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC11, GC12

Assessment 2: Practice/organisation application p...

Assessment 2: Practice/organisation application paper

Students apply Family Inclusive Recovery-Based Practice knowledge and skills to an organisational process, policy, or service context to propose and justify a best-practice, family-inclusive, recovery-oriented approach.

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC4, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Learning and teaching strategies utilised in this unit will support students in meeting the aim and achieving the learning outcomes relevant to this unit, as well as to the broader course learning outcomes. This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of family inclusive recovery-based practice. Delivered as fully online, asynchronous learning allows students to learn at their own pace within the parameters of the teaching term. Weekly modules are structured around an inquiry cycle (engage, explore, apply and reflect) that guides students from key concepts and evidence to analysis of authentic scenarios. Learning is further supported through facilitated asynchronous discussion forums, weekly online drop-in sessions, and an online assessment session for each assessment task with the unit's online facilitator. The discussion forums provide students with activities that encourage students to critically discuss concepts, share practice-based examples (including from their own professional contexts), and provide constructive peer feedback. These activities are designed to build a learning community and deepen critical reflection in a supported online environment. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

• Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2013). A national framework for recovery-oriented mental health services: Guide for practitioners and providers. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/a-national-framework-for-recovery-oriented-mental-health-services-guide-for-practitioners-and-providers?language=en 

• Baker, D., Burgat, L., & Stavely, H. (2019). We’re in this together: Family inclusive practice in mental health services for young people. Orygen.

• Bjørlykhaug, K. I., Karlsson, B., Hesook, S. K., & Kleppe, L. C. (2021). Social support and recovery from mental health problems: A scoping review. Nordic Social Work Research, 12(5), 666–697. https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2020.1868553 

• Lotmore, M., Ziedonis, D., Alvarez Monjaras, M., Hopfenbeck, M., Razzaque, R., Wilson, E., & Pilling, S. (2023). Development and refinement of the open dialog adherence protocol in complex mental health care. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 1041375. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1041375 

• Norton, M. J., & Cuskelly, K. (2021). Family recovery interventions with families of mental health service users: A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), Article 7858. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157858 

• NSW Health. (2020). NSW family focused recovery framework 2020–2025: A framework for NSW Health services. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/resources/Publications/nsw-family-focused-recovery-framework-2020-2025.pdf 

• Olson, M., Seikkula, J., & Ziedonis, D. (2014). The key elements of dialogic practice in Open Dialogue: Fidelity criteria (Version 1.1). University of Massachusetts Medical School.

• Slade, M., Oades, L., & Jarden, A. (Eds.). (2017). Wellbeing, recovery and mental health. Cambridge University Press.

• Tew, J., Ramon, S., Slade, M., Bird, V., Melton, J., & Le Boutillier, C. (2012). Social factors and recovery from mental health difficulties: A review of the evidence. British Journal of Social Work, 42(3), 443–460. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcr076 

• Topor, A., Borg, M., Di Girolamo, S., & Davidson, L. (2011). Not just an individual journey: Social aspects of recovery. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 57(1), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764009345062 

• Waller, S., Reupert, A., Ward, B., McCormick, F., & Kidd, S. (2019). Family-focused recovery: Perspectives from individuals with a mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(1), 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12528 

• Wyder, M., & Bland, R. (2014). The recovery framework as a way of understanding families’ responses to mental illness: Balancing different needs and recovery journeys. Australian Social Work, 67(2), 179–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2013.875580 

• Wyder, M., Barratt, J., Jonas, R., & Bland, R. (2022). Relational recovery for mental health carers and family: Relationships, complexity and possibilities. British Journal of Social Work, 52(3), 1325–1340. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab149 


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