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Video Interaction Guidance for referral professionals

Who the VIG service is for

VIG is effective with children and young people of all ages including pre-term infants. It can be with birth families, children in care with their foster carer(s) and in adoptive families.

VIG can be used at any time and for anyone, even when relationships feel like they have broken down. 

VIG requests will be accepted where there is:

  • a currently involved professional from Cornwall Council’s Together for Families (TFF) services, and

  • when there are concerns with communication, interaction and / or relationships not developing as expected. This can be for a number of possible reasons.

VIG is for parents and carers who want to make changes to communication and interaction. Also to their relationships and confidence with parenting.

An assessment by a professional in TFF may indicate any of the following concerns. (This can be a Health Visitor (for children aged four and under), Social Worker, Family Worker or Psychologist).

  • The parent may be experiencing mental health challenges during or after pregnancy. They may face difficulties in bonding with their baby, if they are separated

  • The parent or carer is developing a relationship with the child that is not as they expected it to be

  • The parent is having difficulty bonding with their baby, or missed the opportunity to bond with their child when they were younger

  • A parent or carer is needing support to apply learning from other interventions or professional support into daily life. (This could be parenting courses or an Early Help Plan)

  • Extra help is needed to strengthen connection and give hope for the relationship

  • The parent may be finding it difficult to express their emotions towards their child. They may need help to support their child to manage their emotions in a safe and healthy way

  • More positive family relationships are needed to improve self-esteem and emotional development of the child

  • The parent or carer needs help to see the world from the child’s point of view

  • Due to a child’s Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), the cues they give and ways they communicate can be complex. The parent or carer may require additional support and confidence building in this area

  • VIG is recommended for children and young people with autism. There is guidance on 'Autism Spectrum Disorder in Under 19s: Support and Management' from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Request involvement from the Service

Requests for involvement for VIG are:

  • submitted via a Case Management Decision (CMD), or

  • submitted through a Foundations For Life (FFL) plan

Please discuss the appropriate route with your line manager. There is guidance to ensure all required information is included.

Before making a request, please consider the following:

  • Has the assessment you have done with the family or child indicated that VIG would be the appropriate intervention? If so, can you make sure this is clear as part of your request for VIG

  • Have you shown one of the videos explaining VIG to the family so that they are giving informed consent? See VIG parents carers Association For Video Interaction Guidance

  • Have you discussed whether VIG would be an appropriate intervention with other people working with the family? Is everyone clear why VIG would be helpful?

Answers to the following questions will be required before the request is accepted. This must be included in the parent / carer’s views section on the Early Help request for help form, or the VIG request form linked to the CMD or FFL form.

  • What change is hoped for from the parent or carer by engaging with the VIG service? Has this been mutually agreed?

  • What impact will this have on the child’s lived experience? Is the parent or carer clear about this?

  • Have any children aged 12 and over given their own consent to be filmed, where relevant?

If you or the family are not sure whether VIG is the right intervention, we have a pre-assessment questionnaire. This Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire has different versions for different age groups. Completing the relevant one can help in deciding whether to proceed.  then completing the PRFQ prior to referral could help.

Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaires (PRFQ)

If you are not sure whether the service would be right, please contact us for more information.

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