AMBIT for those working with children and young people in crisis

What is AMBIT?

AMBIT (Adaptive Mentalization Based Integrative Treatment) is an approach developed at the Anna Freud that aims to maintain effective practice despite the inevitable impact that high levels of risk and complexity can have on team and system functioning. This is highly relevant for people working in the often fast-paced, emotive context of crisis.

AMBIT is used in teams and services across health, social care, youth services and the justice system. The content of this training has been adapted to focus on challenges that are often present at the point of crisis, where there is pressure to achieve the balance of managing risk and working to enable children, young people and their families to engage in safety planning; alongside the challenges of collaborating with other services to broker effective ongoing support.

AMBIT is listed as an evidence-based approach for urgent and emergency mental health care for children and young people in NHS England’s recent national implementation guidance.

About this training

This 4-day training is part of our Children and Young People’s Crisis Training Programme.

In this training, participants will gain an understanding of mentalization theory and its application, including: exploring barriers to accessing help and adapting to individual need; recognising the emotional impact of the work and strengthening helping processes in teams; and acknowledging and addressing difficulties in collaborating with the wider professional network, to get better outcomes for children, young people and their families.

This training will be an opportunity to connect and reflect with others doing similar work across the UK and beyond.

Please note: Between 2021 and 2024, this training was commissioned by NHS England for the crisis workforce in England. NHS England funding is not available for the financial year 2024-25.

Aims of this training

This training will cover:

• an introduction to the theory of mentalization

• the role of mentalizing in establishing trusting helping relationships with children, young people, and families in crisis

• the importance of the “well-connected team” and to supporting worker mentalizing in the context of high-stress, high-risk situations

• how to apply mentalizing to working within complex service ecologies around CYP in crisis.

Who is this training for?

Anyone working within health, social care and youth services who work with children and young people in crisis, and their families, within and outside of the UK.

As AMBIT is a team approach, we recommend that you attend with one or more colleague from your team.