Programme staff training

Providers of lifestyle weight management programmes should:

• Ensure staff are trained to deliver the weight management programme they will be working on.​

• Ensure the training has been developed with the input of, and is regularly reviewed by, a multi-disciplinary team of professionals (see planning and commissioning in the lifestyle weight management services for children and young people path).

• Ensure staff training needs are regularly reviewed and addressed.

• Ensure programme staff treat overweight and obese children, young people and their families with empathy, by making them aware of:

• the reasons why some children and young people may have difficulty managing their weight
• the experiences they may face in relation to their weight
• the anxieties they and their families may have about attending the programme
• the way in which obesity is perceived by different communities
• the issues they may need to consider to ensure activities are culturally acceptable.

• ​Train staff:

• to accurately measure and record height and weight and to determine body mass index (BMI) centile using age- and gender-specific charts
• to help parents and carers recognise that their child is overweight or obese and the benefits of addressing their weight
• to use a locally approved comorbidities assessment tool, where available, to determine whether lifestyle weight management programmes are appropriate, or whether they should see their GP for a referral to a specialist obesity service or other specialist services (for example, paediatric services)
• to identify any concerns about a child or young person's mental wellbeing and how to refer them to their GP for onward referral to child and adolescent mental health services
• in how to comply with statutory requirements and local policies relating to safeguarding and information governance.

Programme staff knowledge and skills

Providers of lifestyle weight management programmes should:

• Ensure staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver multi-component programmes to children, young people and their families. This includes knowledge and skills in relation to: childhood obesity management, diet and physical activity. It may also include training in behaviour-change techniques and psychological approaches (for example, motivational interviewing).​

• Ensure there are staff available who can provide parenting skills training. Also ensure there are staff trained in practical food preparation.

• Ensure staff are able to empathise and communicate effectively with the family. They should be able to work collaboratively with them and tailor interventions for individual needs. They should also be able to lead group work and set an appropriate pace when delivering the programme. In addition, they should be able to judge when changes in behaviour have become embedded, before introducing further changes.​

• Ensure staff can review progress and provide constructive feedback. They should be able to help children, young people and their families to identify possible reasons for relapse and use problem-solving techniques to address these.

• Identify any gaps in staff knowledge or skills (or a lack of confidence). Address any gaps through training.