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Mining Deep, Scaling Heights, Session: KIDS 0-3: Collaborative Practice in a Trans-Disciplinary Home Visitation Programme

On 18 November 2016, a team consisting of a paediatrician, nurse, community health visitor, and social worker came together for the session titled “KIDS 0-3: Collaborative Practice in a Trans-Disciplinary Home Visitation Programme”. They shared their journey and reflections in conceptualising, preparing and implementing an integrated programme spanning both the health and social service domains.

Speakers from KK Women's and Children's Hospital:

1. Dr Yang Jing Hui – KIDS 0-3 Doctor Associate Consultant

2. Ms Valerie Goh – KIDS 0-3 Social Worker

3. Ms Low Tok Cheng – KIDS 0-3 Nurse

4. Ms Bavani Govindarasu – KIDS 0-3 Community Health Visitor

Designations as of 18 November 2016.

 

What is the KIDS 0-3 Programme?

KIDS 0-3 programme started as a pilot programme in July 2014, led by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in collaboration with AMKFSC Community Services Ltd, and supported by Temasek Foundation Cares. In July 2016, KIDS 0-3 also commenced delivering similar services to families under the antenatal home visitation programme of KidSTART that is supported by the Early Childhood Development Agency (EDCA).

Aims of the KIDS 0-3 Programme

Using a trans-disciplinary, key worker approach, KIDS 0-3 aims to provide early intervention through integrated health and social service support to vulnerable pregnant mothers and their families. Its primary focus is to ensure that vulnerable children receive early stimulation and emotional security from their caregivers during their early years so that they can attain a good start in life.

The Importance of Early Childhood Development

Safe, stable and nurturing relationships form the foundation for a conducive environment for optimising a child’s development. As such, KIDS 0-3 Programme has crafted their intervention to build parents and caregivers’ capacity to support their child’s growth.

How Trans-disciplinary Keyworkers Support Parents in KIDS 0 – 3

In KIDS 0-3, the Keyworker (main contact person from the service) is either a Nurse or Community Health Visitor (CHV), depending on the age of the child. They play multi-faceted roles in the journey with the families:

  • Partnering the family and role-modelling positive and supportive relationship building to parents’ and caregivers

  • Supporting families’ access to health, developmental and social services

  • Facilitating parents and caregivers’ awareness of early childhood health and developmental needs

  • Sharing of developmentally appropriate teachable moments, discipline and boundary setting during the caregiving process

How Keyworkers are Supported in the KIDS 0-3 Team

  • All Keyworkers receive case support from a multi-disciplinary team comprising Doctors, Allied Health Professionals and social workers within KIDS 0-3 and KKH.

  • All Keyworkers receive monthly reflective supervision session from KIDS 0-3 Social Workers; Reflective practice is a key pillar of the KIDS 0-3 service.

Recommendations from the Intervention Team

  • Respect and empathise with the different contexts of the clients’ families: seek to understand their limitations, priorities, and journey with them at their pace.

  • Communication with the community partners in articulating a shared purpose and objective with the family during the intervention.

  • Teamwork and respect among members from different specialisations is extremely important. 

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