Take the Plunge: Learn the RBI and Transform Your Practice

I’ve heard Dr Robin McWilliam, the author of the Routines-Based Model say, 

You can’t help but fall a little bit in love with a family after a Routines-Based Interview. 

I’ve been fortunate to conduct Routines-Based Interviews (RBIs) with a diverse range of families over the years and I find myself agreeing with this statement.

I decided to take the plunge into the world of RBIs when I knew my approach to setting goals with families wasn’t cutting it. Asking “What goals do you want to work on?” was only getting us so far. Families want the best for their children, and they are creative and resourceful in the way they meet their child’s needs. To listen intently to a caregiver as they describe how their unique family goes about their day is fascinating. You find out about worries and concerns as well as hard fought wins. You get to hear what they enjoy doing together as a family and the qualities they value in their child.

The RBI opens wide the possibilities of what we can work on together. I think often of a family that I previously supported. The main concerns the parent expressed at the start of the interview matched the basic referral information we had received from the paediatrician about her son – limited communication and play skills. However, once we started exploring daily routines, it emerged that the biggest worry for this parent was actually how she could support her son to wash himself. The family had moved to a new home and the child was terrified of going into the bathroom. His mother had adapted by washing her son outside, but recognised this would not be practical as the weather became colder. Uncovering this information during the RBI enabled me to reassure the parent that this was something our team could support, and led to a functional goal that had a significant impact on day-to-day family life.

Prior to identifying goals in an RBI we ask every family the same three questions:

1. “Do you have enough time for yourself or with another person?"
2. “When you lie awake at night worrying, what do you worry about?"
3. “If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?”

Professionals may feel concerned that these questions are too confronting. My experience has been that families appreciate the opportunity to consider these questions. Sometimes their responses lead to goals the family didn’t realise they could be supported to achieve. I always gain some insight into how the family is functioning, their outlook on life, their values and what’s important to them.

The RBI gives a framework for learning about a child and family and discovering their priorities much more effectively than my old question, “What goals do you want to work on?” A successful interview feels like a conversation. It enables me to connect with caregivers in a way that respects them as experts about their child and family life.

Accessing support from RBI experts gave me the skills and confidence to begin conducting interviews. Lots of practice enabled me to work towards achieving fidelity, and in time to start supporting others to learn about RBI.

Noah’s Ark is hosting RBI Deepen in Melbourne this November. Learn from experienced professionals and gain practical tools to:

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of child and family functioning
• Build strong, positive relationships with families
• Develop meaningful participation-based goals in collaboration with families.

Don’t miss the opportunity to take the plunge and transform how you work with children and families. Enrol now!