How does the team communicate its needs? Initially it appeared to be difficult for the team to communicate its needs.

The Solihull Approach (SA) to working with children, families and carers provides a useful framework not only for direct practice but also for thinking about parallel processes within and between organisations (Douglas 2007). The approach integrates the concept of containment with that of reciprocity and behaviour management. The notion of reciprocity draws from research on interactions between infants and their parents (Douglas 2007). Particularly important is the insight that infants actively initiate, respond to and, crucially, withdraw from interaction with carers. This so-called dance of reciprocity consists of typical stages of initiation, orientation, attention, acceleration, excitement, deceleration and finally withdrawal or turning away. The concept can also be applied to interactions and relationships between adults. The approach recognises the value of behavioural management techniques drawn from behaviourism but believes this is best achieved within containing and reciprocal relationships. The approach invites practitioners to ask three questions of parents to better understand their children. What is the age and developmental stage of your child? What changes have taken place in your lives recently? How well can your child communicate her or his needs to you?