Service-level barriers and facilitators to father engagement in child and family services: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.

Purpose: Service-level factors that influence father engagement within child and family services are not well understood due to diversity in research studies and evidence from different contexts. Accordingly, the aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesise available qualitative evidence across contexts to identify the common service-level barriers and facilitators of father engagement in child and family services. Methods: The following six databases were systematically searched: AMED, EMBASE, Medline, CAB Abstracts, PsycINFO, and Global Health). A screening process conducted by two independent reviewers identified twenty-three eligible qualitative studies. Results from the included studies were synthesised thematically. Results: Thematic synthesis identified seven main themes encompassing service-level barriers and facilitators to father engagement: practitioner factors; environment; marketing; resource factors; staff education; policy and practice guidelines; and evaluation. Conclusions: The findings show that father engagement is dependent on a mixture of top-down policies and procedures, as well as individual practitioner competencies. Addressing the barriers and prioritizing facilitators requires an overall service commitment to father-inclusive practice, that takes into account the organizational structure, policies, and procedures, and the skills and knowledge of the workforce.