Motivational Interviewing Family Safeguarding

Motivational Interviewing is a client-centred, directive therapeutic approach designed to enhance readiness for change. It forms a core framework for practice within Reading Borough Council's Family Safeguarding model, supporting staff to have more effective, structured conversations with families.

The training equips staff with the knowledge and skills to engage families in meaningful, strengths-based conversations, helping them identify their own motivations for change. It supports the broader goal of keeping families together and reducing the number of children entering care.

During the training, we will cover:

• Core components and principles of MI
• Applying MI within your existing safeguarding practice
• Client-centred communication and reflective listening
• Addressing ambivalence and eliciting motivation for change
• Using questions, reflections and summaries to facilitate change
• Understanding how your own responses affect family engagement
• Recording interventions appropriately