FAQ – PARENTING
Who are Kent Parenting Service?
The Kent Parenting Service is made up of a consortia of partners who have come together to
offer targeted parenting programmes across Kent. The programmes we deliver are:
Incredible Babies, Incredible Years & Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities
CXK is the prime contractor, after the service was commissioned out by Kent County Council
in April 2013, and is working in a consortia partnership with: Canterbury & District Early
Years Project; Fegans (Parent Plus); Family Action and Race Equality Foundation
The Kent Parenting Service is currently delivering 79 programmes per year across all 12
districts in Kent (Per area– 8 Incredible Years, 6 Strengthening Families, Strengthening
Communities, 1 Incredible Babies). We also offer 12 programmes which respond flexibly to
local need & 7 floating programmes to support evening or weekend demand.
The current delivery set up:
CXK: Ashford, Shepway, Maidstone and Dover
CDEYP: Canterbury, Thanet, Swale and Dover
Fegans: Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Swanley & Sevenoaks and Maidstone
Family Action: Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley & Sevenoaks and Swale
For contract details of each partner, please click here
What do we deliver?
The Kent Parenting Service offers three targeted & specialist parenting programmes across
the county: Incredible Babies; Incredible Years; Strengthening Families, Strengthening
Communities.
For all three programmes, we offer an introductory information session which is open to
parents and referrers to attend. The introductory session will be a maximum two hours
long.
Incredible Babies (for ages 0-1; ideal age 0-6 months at time of programme start)
- An eight week programme to promote attachment and care
- Promotes baby’s physical, emotional, social and language development
- Aims to strengthen parent-child attachment
- Involves group discussions, video clips, practice, home activities
Click here for full week-by-week guide
Incredible Years (for ages 1-8)
- A 12 week programme of two hour sessions to address significant behaviour issues
- Promotes strategies to increase play and reduce need for sanctions
- Aims to strengthen parent-child relationship, child development and attachment
- Involves group discussions, video clips, practice, home activities
Click here for full week-by-week guide
Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (for ages 3-18)
- A 13-week session of 3 hour sessions
- Looks at all aspects of being a parent from family roots and values to behaviour
management through discipline
- Aims to reduce anti-social; behaviour and increase parents’ involvement in local
communities and services
- Involves group discussions, practice, family activity, community speaker
Click here for full week-by-week guides
How are our programmes delivered?
Our programmes are delivered by facilitators who are all trained by accredited bodies. Each
session will be overseen by 2 facilitators to encourage mutual learning and peer support.
Facilitators possess a wide range of backgrounds – youth work; family work; health;
teaching; early years; social care; early intervention.
Our programmes are delivered locally in Children’s Centres and other community venues
with crèche provision for Incredible Years programmes offered. For daytime programmes
timings are designed to fit around school pick up. Weekend and evening delivery is available
if numbers are sufficient. We can also help with transport support – taxi or bus pass for
those where transport is a barrier.
The key strengths of our programme delivery are:
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Non-judgemental
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Inclusive
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Accessible
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Collaborative
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Strong evidence base – empirically tested
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Cost effective
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Life enhancing
Who can attend the parenting programmes?
Parents, carers & grandparents of children who are age appropriate for the programme can
access them. These parents/carers should have the child/ren in their care or have regular
access (at least once a week minimum).
The Kent Parenting Service now accepts “preventative” referrals which do not have a CAF,
Early Help Notification or Statutory Plan in place. These referrals will still require the support
of a key worker such as School FLO, Health Visitor, CAMHS worker, Early Help Practitioner or
Children’s Centre Staff. Of course we continue to support CAF, Early Help Notifications,
Specialist Children’s Services and KIASS parents to our programmes. For general referrer
guidance on how to make an effective programme please click here
These programmes are beneficial for parents who:
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have a poor attachment with their child
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need to increase their confidence in parenting
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have a child with ASD/ ADHD
How can this benefit my family?
The programmes desired outcomes are:
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parents have good relationships with their children and family
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parents promote their child's learning and involvement in education
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parents promote resilience in their children and young people
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parents empathise with their child and communicate respectfully and effectively
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parents feel in control and remain calm when facing difficulties and find ways to
avoid conflict
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parents establish clear boundaries and successfully manage behaviour issues
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parents effectively manage the pressures of parenting
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parents have the information they need to make choices and decisions to support
positive outcomes for their child
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parents have a good understanding of child development and how to ensure their
child has a healthy life-style
Are these parenting programmes beneficial for parents with children/young people who
have ASD/ADHD?
Yes, Incredible Years and Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities programmes
are suited to parents of children with ASD/ADHD and we get good outcomes especially
around maintaining boundaries.
In addition, CXK’s Young Healthy Minds (an early intervention service for emotional
wellbeing - ages 4-18) are about to launch a set of sessions specifically for children referred
with ADHD/ASD as a feature. We will be launching this aspect of the service in January 2015.
Click here for more details
How can I access a programme?
In order to access programmes, parents must be referred by a key worker or lead
professional. Unfortunately, we cannot accept “self-referrals” (click here for more details).
In order to make a referral, complete our Access Form and submit it electronically to
parentingprogrammes@kent.gov.uk .
Before making your referral, be sure to introduce the relevant programme to the family.
Discuss the content, structure, benefits and commitment involved. Once the parents are
fully informed and have concented to share their personal information with our service and
our partner agencies, you may submit your completed form.
Once received, our Central Co-ordination Team will confirm receipt of your Access Form and
let you know when the parent has been offered a place on an upcoming programme. We
will rely on you, as the referrer to convey the programme details to the parent as well as
prepare them for the course. In the weeks leading up to the programme, the facilitator will
be in contact with both you and the parent for introductions and pre-engagement. A
traingulation of support around the family is integral to the parent’s success on the
programme.
Where can I find the Access Form to make a referral?
To download the Access Form for referral, visit Kent Parenting Services’ webpage on KELSI
via http://www.kelsi.org.uk/kentparentingservice.aspx or CXK’s Kent Parenting Service via
www.cxk.org/kentparentingservice.
The Access Form is emboldened in black at the bottom of the second section. Also available
for download are our Week-by-Week Guides for each programme.
What makes a good referral?
To achieve the best outcomes for parents and families, an effective referral is very
important. For guidance on how to make a succesful referral, please see our document
“Guidance for Referrers- Tips on How to Make an Effective Referral.
Do parents need to have and Early Help Notification, CAF or Statutory Plan in place in
order to access the commissioned parenting programmes?
The Kent Parenting Service accepts “preventative” referrals which do not have a CAF, Early
Help Notification or Statutory Plan in place. These referrals will still require the support of a
key worker such as School FLO, Health Visitor, CAMHS worker, Early Help Practitioner or
Children’s Centre Staff. The Kent Parenting Service hopes that by broadening the criteria we
will be providing the early help necessary to minimise the need to access other services such
as specialist behaviour support or mental health support, and that this will empower
parents to meet those needs within the family context and with support from wider
community networking and signposting. Of course we continue to support CAF, Early Help
Notifications, Specialist Children’s Services and KIASS parents to our programmes.
Can parents self-refer?
Unfortunately not, the Kent Parenting Service cannot accept “self-referrals” to our targeted
& specialist programmes. The IB, IY and SFSC programmes are intensive and will require a
significant amount of practitioner support for families referrerd. Our facilitators will
certainly support the family leading up to and during the programme but will require Key
Worker involvement to ensure engagement, support and attendance.
How can I get an update on the status of my referral?
In the first instance, and until the parent you have referred has been offered a place on one
of our programmes, please direct your enquiries to parentingprogrammes@kent.gov.uk.
Once the parent has been allocated a place to one of our programmes, please contact the
relevant delivery partner in your district. A list of our partner agencies can be found here
Contact List.doc.
Do you provide a crèche facility?
We mainly offer crèche for our daytime Incredible Years programmes.
Do you provide transport assistance?
Should the parent require assistance with transport to attend the programme, we would
encourage the parent and referrer/key worker to investigate public transport options. We
would look to offer the option of a taxi (in exceptional circumstances and when all other
ideas have been considered) or bus pass – click here for more details
What do I do if the parent I am referring needs help with transport?
We would be happy to put forward an application for transport funding on your behalf. The
Kent Parenting Service requires that you complete a Transport Request Form and provide
written confirmation that your budget manager cannot part or whole fund transport.
Moreover, that the most prudent choice of transport has been considered and also provide
an estimate of the cost.
Once we receive your Transport Request Form and written confirmation of the required
details, the application will take about 10 days to be resolved. If budget approval is granted,
the Kent Parenting Service will make the necessary arrangements and liaise with you to
confirm that the travel arrangements have been made.
Your parent will need further support until we can confirm that transport is in place.
What is the role of our facilitators?
In addition to delivering the evidence-based programmes, the key roles of our facilitators
are:
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Contact referrers & parents prior to the group starting to introduce the programme
and answer parent queries
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Carry out pre-programme home visits if necessary
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Carry out weekly phone calls & text messages to support parents to achieve
outcomes and attend regularly
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Contact parents & referrers for unexplained and consistent absences
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Carry out evaluations (pre and post programme) to measure progress
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Signposting parents with additional and ongoing needs to services/agencies
Where do we deliver?
Our programmes are delivered locally in Children’s Centres and other community venues.
We deliver across all 12 districts in Kent:
CXK: Ashford, Shepway, Maidstone and Dover
CDEYP: Canterbury, Thanet, Swale and Dover
Fegans: Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Swanley & Sevenoaks and Maidstone
Family Action: Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley & Sevenoaks and Swale
Where can I find programme schedule?
There are various ways to find out information about current parenting programme
schedules across Kent:
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You can visit Kent Parenting Services’ web pages:
www.cxk.org/kentparentingservice
http://www.kelsi.org.uk/pupil_support_and_wellbeing/strategic_commissioning/early_inte
rvention_prevention/early_intervention_sub-group/kent_parenting_service.aspx
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Contact KCC’s new Early Help service for advice and support by email
(earlyhelp@kent.gov.uk) or phone 01622 221222
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Visit your local children’s centre and enquire for details
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Contact our provider agencies directly – click here
Where can I find specific programme content info?
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You can visit Kent Parenting Services’ web pages:
www.cxk.org/kentparentingservice
http://www.kelsi.org.uk/pupil_support_and_wellbeing/strategic_commissioning/early_inte
rvention_prevention/early_intervention_sub-group/kent_parenting_service.aspx
You can also access the week-by-week guides for each programme by clicking
What do our parents say about the programmes?
“Feeling on top of the world how everything is coming together”
“This was a brilliant course. The facilitators are lovely and very clear and easy to
understand”
“We have a happy house now”
“I feel there have been positive improvements to the children’s behaviour and they know
what to expect in different situations”
“ I wish the course was longer”
“ I still have issues but now I feel confident to deal with them”
Who can I contact for further information?
CXK (www.cxk.org)
The Old Court
Tufton Street
Ashford
Kent
TN23 1QN
T: 01233 224244
E: info@cxk.org
Twitter: @CXKLtd
Julie Stones
Kent Parenting Service Contract Manager & CXK Assistant Director
E: juliestones@cxk.org
M: 07718 149592
Mark Wiltshire
CXK Senior Parenting Programme Facilitator
E: markwiltshire@cxk.org
M: 07725 445030
Sherrylea Perera
Parenting Programme Co-Ordinator
E: parentingprogrammes@kent.gov.uk
M: 07928 787158
Michelle Fisher
Parenting Programme Facilitator
E: michellefisher@cxk.org
M: 07743 287810
Carley Beer
Parenting Programme Facilitator
E: carleybeer@cxk.org
M: 07843 287782
Debbie Salmon
Parenting Programmes Administrative Officer
E: parenting@cxk.org
T: 01233 224244/07843 287835
Family Action (www.family-action.org.uk)
Katherine Putko
Locality Coordinator
Kent & Medway Parenting Programmes & Relationship Support Services
E: Katherine.Putko@family-action.org.uk
Office: 01634 829128
Mobile: 07872161535
Canterbury & District Early Years Project (http://canterburydeyp.org.uk/)
Jennie Thompson
Manager
T: 01227 786420
E: admin@canterburydeyp.org.uk
Fegans (www.fegans.org.uk)
Mick Haselden
Project Manager, Parents+Plus
Office: 01732 808448
Mobile: 07833 431691
E: Mick.Haselden@fegans.org.uk
Race Equality Foundation (www.raceequalityfoundation.org.uk)
Leandra Box
Programme Manager
T: 0207 428 1885
E: leandra@racefound.org.uk
The Ministry of Parenting (www.theministryofparenting.com)
T: 01206 562 626
E: info@theministryofparenting.com
Twitter: @_parenting
Kent County Council
Allison Esson
Commissioning Officer
E: allison.esson@kent.gov.uk
E: commissioningchildrens@kent.gov.uk
Kent Family Support Framework
(http://kelsi.org.uk/pupil_support_and_wellbeing/targeted_support/caf__integrated_proce
sses.aspx
Early Help advice and support – E: earlyhelp@kent.gov.uk; T: 01622 221222
Useful websites
www.cxk.org/kentparentingservice
http://canterburydeyp.org.uk
www.family-action.org.uk
www.fegans.org.uk
www.raceequalityfoundation.org.uk
www.theministryofparenting.com
http://www.kelsi.org.uk/pupil_support_and_wellbeing/strategic_commissioning/early_in
tervention_prevention/early_intervention_sub-group/kent_parenting_service.aspx
Can I follow you on Twitter?
Yes, @kentparenting
Can I download parenting marketing materials?
Leaflets
Presentations
Press releases
Case studies
Video clips
Images
Logos
What other CXK services can I access?
CXK is a charity that helps young people and adults to develop their skills, raise their
aspirations and encourage them to reach their full potential. It also helps employers and
organisations to develop their workforce and reduce unemployment. Please visit
www.cxk.org for more information on all our services