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Vaccine Hesitancy Training for Family Hubs

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Summary

Vaccine hesitancy training can help Family Hub practitioners develop the confidence and skills needed to support conversations about vaccination with parents, carers and families.

This practical half-day programme introduces motivational interviewing and health coaching approaches that can help practitioners have more effective, compassionate and non-judgemental conversations about vaccination. Rather than focusing on persuading people to change their minds, the course helps participants listen, build trust, understand individual perspectives and support informed decision-making.

Participants will learn how to use Open Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening and Summarising (OARS) to explore concerns and build rapport. The programme also examines the factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy, including confidence, convenience and complacency, and introduces the Vaccine Readiness model to help practitioners understand where individuals may be in their decision-making journey.

Through practical exercises, case studies and discussion, delegates will develop greater confidence in supporting conversations about vaccination whilst respecting individual choice, beliefs and experiences. The skills learned can be applied immediately within Family Hub settings and wider community-based roles.

This programme forms part of our wider Health Coaching, Behaviour Change and Personalised Care Training pathway.

Aims

This practical half-day programme equips Family Hub practitioners with the confidence and communication skills needed to support conversations about vaccination in a compassionate, non-judgemental and person-centred way.

  • Understand the factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy and vaccination health inequalities
  • Recognise the practical, psychological and social barriers that can influence vaccine uptake
  • Explore the principles of motivational interviewing and their application to vaccine conversations
  • Develop skills in Open Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening and Summarising (OARS)
  • Build rapport and trust through compassionate, non-judgemental communication
  • Learn how personal beliefs, experiences and perceptions influence health decisions
  • Understand the Vaccine Readiness model and how to support people at different stages of decision-making
  • Practise conversations that encourage informed decision-making whilst respecting individual choice
  • Develop confidence in supporting parents, carers and families to explore vaccination concerns
  • Apply evidence-based approaches to real-world scenarios commonly encountered within Family Hub settings
How Long Is The Course?

This programme is delivered as a half-day interactive workshop.

The course combines practical teaching, discussion, reflection and skills practice, enabling participants to develop confidence in having vaccine conversations within Family Hub and community settings.

Throughout the session, delegates explore real-life scenarios and case studies, applying motivational interviewing, health coaching and person-centred communication techniques to common situations they may encounter when supporting parents, carers and families.

Who Should Attend?

This programme is designed for Family Hub practitioners and community-based professionals who support parents, carers and families through trusted relationships and everyday conversations.

  • Family Hub Practitioners
  • Family Support Workers
  • Early Help Practitioners
  • Community Development Workers
  • Parenting Practitioners
  • Community Link Workers
  • Social Prescribers
  • Health Visitors
  • Children’s Centre Staff
  • Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) staff supporting families
  • Anyone who has conversations with parents and carers about health, wellbeing and vaccination

The course is particularly relevant for practitioners who are trusted sources of support within their communities and who wish to develop greater confidence in discussing vaccination with families in a respectful, person-centred and non-judgemental way.

Additional Information

The full course curriculum is detailed below.

Vaccine Hesitancy Training: Understanding Barriers to Uptake

  • The importance of vaccination and immunisation programmes
  • Understanding vaccine uptake and herd immunity
  • The impact of vaccination on individual and community health
  • Common causes of vaccine hesitancy and vaccination inequalities
  • Exploring confidence, convenience and complacency as barriers to uptake
  • The role of Family Hubs in supporting vaccine confidence within communities

Motivational Interviewing and Health Coaching Approaches

  • Moving beyond advice-giving and the traditional healthcare mindset
  • The principles of Motivational Interviewing
  • Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion and Empowerment
  • Understanding personal perceptions and models of the world
  • Recognising the importance of curiosity, empathy and non-judgemental conversations
  • Building trust through person-centred communication

Developing Effective Vaccine Conversations

  • Using Open Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening and Summarising (OARS)
  • Exploring concerns through active listening
  • Using reflective responses to demonstrate understanding
  • Building rapport with parents, carers and families
  • Recognising and avoiding judgemental language
  • Supporting informed decision-making through respectful dialogue

Understanding Vaccine Readiness

  • The Vaccine Readiness model
  • Supporting people experiencing scepticism, curiosity, readiness, action and maintenance
  • Recognising practical and emotional barriers to vaccination
  • Identifying opportunities to support behaviour change
  • Responding appropriately at different stages of readiness

Practical Application

  • Practising vaccine conversations using realistic Family Hub case studies
  • Applying motivational interviewing techniques in everyday interactions
  • Supporting conversations around common concerns and misconceptions
  • Exploring barriers experienced by diverse families and communities
  • Reflecting on how Family Hubs can contribute to improved vaccine confidence and uptake

The programme draws on evidence-based approaches including guidance from NICE and established motivational interviewing methodologies.

Throughout the programme, participants have opportunities to practise their skills, receive feedback and build confidence in having compassionate and effective conversations about vaccination within Family Hub settings.

Delegate Feedback

Vaccine Hesitancy Training for Family Hubs
NHS Wigan - 10th July 2026

5 delegates completed evaluations, each scoring 4 domains out of 6

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