An evaluation of the impact of an inter‐agency intervention programme to promote social skills in primary school children

Abstract

This paper describes a social skills programme run in one primary school designed to promote children's cooperative skills and anger management. The programme was staffed by Child and Adolescent Mental Health professionals with educational psychologist and school support. Eight children with severe emotional and behavioural problems participated and completed the 20‐week programme. Pre and post data were collected for the children, parents and teachers. Parents were supported by regular meetings and domiciliary visits from an assistant psychologist. Teaching staff met regularly with the team and had frequent supportive contact with the assistant psychologist. Two educational psychologists‐in‐training made an independent qualitative evaluation of the programme, interviewing the children, their parents and teachers, as well as members of the multi‐agency team. After attending the group, the children showed a significant reduction in their anxiety, parents reported a significant reduction in oppositional behaviour and teachers a significant reduction in attention‐deficit hyperactive difficulties type behaviour. All measures showed a significant or positive trend, although there was some disappointment in the level of parent participation in the school‐based parent meetings. Reasons for this are discussed and the case for multi‐agency social skills interventions is made, along with a broader discussion of the role of the educational psychologist.

Notes

* Corresponding author: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Downend Clinic, Buckingham Gardens, Downend, Bristol BS16 5TW, UK, email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lynn Maddern *

* Corresponding author: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Downend Clinic, Buckingham Gardens, Downend, Bristol BS16 5TW, UK, email: [email protected]