Somerset
Parenting Support
Strategy
Revised
September 2013
Children & Young People Health & Wellbeing
Sub Group
Somerset County Council
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
1.
Establishing the strategy
Supporting parents at different levels of need
A shared approach to parenting support
Acknowledgments
Appendix 1: Framework for parent support services
2
3
4
5
6-11
Establishing the Strategy
This strategy paper updates and builds upon the detailed Somerset Parenting
Support Strategy 2008. It has been produced by a cross agency working
party (Appendix 1) at the request of the Somerset Children and Young
People’s Subgroup which reports to the Children’s Trust. It is aligned to the
Somerset Early Help Strategy 2013.
The 2008 Parenting Support Strategy was grounded in a rigorous consultation
process with parents / carers and partner organisations that work with children
and young people. The outcomes of this process are embedded in this
slimmed down update. The 2008 Strategy included detailed summaries of
parenting programmes and case studies illustrating their value in Somerset.
These are not included in this update but remain pertinent
Definitions
’Parents' refers to any person who looks after a child or young person in a
parental capacity and also parents not living with their child. This includes
mothers, fathers, carers and other adults with responsibility for caring for a
child.
’Parenting support services’ are defined as any activity or facility aimed at
providing information, advice and support to parents to help them bring up
their children.
Overarching Principles
There is strong evidence that parenting has a major impact on a child’s life
chances. Strong and affectionate relationships with parents, recognition and
praise, and parental interest and involvement in education are all linked with
better outcomes for children.
The majority of parents in Somerset are doing a good job. Some though are
bringing up their children in challenging circumstances. High levels of poverty
and complex family conditions (including physical and mental health
problems) can all affect outcomes for children.
Somerset’s revised Parenting Strategy aims to improve outcomes for children
with a particular focus on improving the emotional health and wellbeing of
children and young people through early intervention. The overarching
principal of the strategy is to improve outcomes for children and their families
by building parental confidence and effective parenting skills. The Strategy is
closely linked with other plans and strategies including: The Somerset Children’s Plan
2





The Somerset Integrated Healthy Child Model 0-5
Somerset Early Help Strategy
Somerset Teenage Pregnancy Strategy
Somerset Troubled Families Programme
Somerset SEN Strategy
The following underpin work with parents in Somerset:
Parents are actively involved in developing, shaping and the delivery of
services.

Parents must take responsibility for managing their child’s behaviour

All agencies working with parents have a role in supporting positive and
responsible parenting

All services must ensure that parents are valued, respected, well
informed and consulted about their child

All services work actively to communicate with and support parents who
are disengaged

Parenting work builds on parents’ strengths as well as offering support
when needed

There is no stigma attached to receiving parenting support

A range of interventions are needed to meet different family
circumstances and levels of need

Interventions should have a clear rationale, have an evidence-based
assessment and be regularly monitored and quality assured.

Seamless support is available to parents of children with learning
disabilities or Special Educational Needs

Parenting support embraces the needs of families from all cultural
backgrounds including black and minority ethnic parents

Staff working with challenging families must receive training re parenting
methods using approaches consistently across the county

Investing in parenting support is likely to reduce demand for higher tier
services
2. Supporting Parents at Different Levels of Need
A Framework for Parenting Support has been developed (appendix 1) which
identifies four levels of need based on Somerset’s Early Help Strategy
thresholds which are also reflected in Somerset’s Integrated Healthy Child
Programme, though described using different headings
Level of need
Tier 1: Child Achieving Expected
Outcomes - has no current
additional needs
Tier 2: Vulnerable Child with
Some Additional Needs
Link to Healthy Child Model
Universal
Universal Plus
Tier 3: Vulnerable Child with
Universal Plus Partnership
Multiple and Complex Needs
Tier 4: Vulnerable Child with Acute Highly Complex including statutory /
or Highly Complex Needs
safeguarding processes
3
3. A Shared Approach to Parenting Support
Programmes
Across all levels of need, parents may access parenting support programmes
led by a range of partner organisations including
 Children Centres
 Health Visiting Service
 Child Care providers
 Children’s Social Care
 Parent and Family Support Advisors
 Specialist CAMHS
 Educational Psychology Service
 School Nursing Service
 Integrated Therapy Service
 Advisory Teacher Services
 Early Intervention Services / Early Intervention Pods
 School based specialist PAT workers
 Somerset Skills and Learning
 Youth Offending Team / Targeted Youth Support
A range of session based programmes may support parents including
 Triple P
 Webster Stratton
 PEEP ( Peers Early Education Partnership)
 Solihull
 Time Together, Playing Up, Growing Up, Teenage Kicks
 Health Visiting Family Partnership Model adopted by Health Visiting
Service for working with all families
There is no single parenting support programme which is suitable for all.
Parents have different needs at different times and individual preferences and
learning styles will have an impact on what is effective and acceptable.
Where support is provided through courses such as those listed above,
whether aimed at individual parents or groups, provision should: be structured and have a curriculum informed by principles of sociallearning theory
 include relationship-enhancing strategies
 offer a sufficient number of sessions, with an optimum of 8–12, to
maximise the possible benefits for participants. Courses providing
specific training for parents on managing their child’s disability or
special education needs may have fewer sessions although complex
difficulties may need more time
 enable parents to identify their own parenting objectives
 incorporate modelling during sessions, as well as work to be
undertaken between sessions, to achieve generalisation of newly
rehearsed behaviours in the home situation
 be delivered by appropriately trained and skilled facilitators who are
supervised, have access to necessary on going professional
development, and are able to engage in a productive therapeutic
4

alliance with parents
adhere to the programme developer’s manual, and employ all the
necessary materials to ensure consistent implementation of the
programme.
Staff delivering parenting support, needs to be appropriately trained in the
methods they are using. Where possible this should take place through
integrated workforce development.
4.
Acknowledgments
The following partners have contributed to this revision of Somerset’s
Parenting Support Strategy 2008 on behalf of the Somerset Children & Young
People’s Health & Wellbeing Subgroup of the Children’s Trust.
Somerset County Council:
- Early Years Advisory Service
- Educational Psychology Service
- Children Centres
- Somerset Association of Primary Head Teachers
- Children’s Social Care, Early Intervention Pods
- Parent Family Support Advisors
- Somerset Skills and Learning
- Youth Offending Team/Targeted Youth Support
Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Integrated Therapy Service
- Health Visiting Service
- School Nursing Service
- CAMHS
NHS Somerset: Public Health
- Children & Young People’s Team inc Somerset Health &
Wellbeing in Learning Programme
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- Paediatric Outpatient Service
Appendix 1:
5
Framework for Parenting Support Services 0 -5
Level of Need
Tier 1
Child Achieving
Expected
Outcomes - has
no current
additional needs
Definition of Need


All parents and carers before
problems have been identified
Professionals, volunteers,
community groups and support
staff requiring basic info
Services providing support
Children’s Centres
Group support, general one to one support,
PEEP and Solihull approach
Family Learning Programme
Positive Parenting Course (Time Out for
Parents)
SHARE Plus training
All families visited antenatally, between 1014 days after birth, 6-12 weeks and at 6 –
12 months, 2 ½ years and 3 ½ years. All
families assessed using a family Health
needs Assessment Tool
Fact File for Early Years
Fact File for School Age
ITS Advice Sheets (on website)
Telephone Advice Line
Health Visiting Service
Integrated Therapy Service
Parent and Family Support Advisors
(PFSAs)
As above plus…
Support in EYFS/ Reception linking with
Children ‘s Centres and Health visitors.
Supporting transition into school.
Delivery of ‘SHARE’ family learning
courses.
Support with school applications.
Monitoring attendance in EYFS with
children under 5 where parents with issues
e.g. drug problems.
Time Out for Parents – course delivered
through Children Centres, Schools and
other settings
As above plus…
Children’s Centres
Solihull Approach and Triple P
Children’s Social Care / Early Intervention
Pod
1-1 assessment of need and risk as
required. Co-delivery of Triple P and group
sessions
No Direct Intervention with Parents at this
level but available to consult with other
professionals/and parents if appropriate
Playing Up
Somerset Skills and Learning
Tier 2
Vulnerable Child
with Some
Additional Needs



Parents experiencing specific
difficulties relating to their child’s
development, health and
wellbeing or their own
circumstances
Parents of children 0-5 identified
through the Healthy Child
Meeting or pre CAF - process
Professionals and support staff
identify low level needs for single
agency or multi agency response
and access to specialist
Type of support or
programmes available
CAMHS
Educational Psychology Service
Risks & Gaps
Centres are now moving
away from Children
Universal (1) to Universal
Plus – this creates a gap
Where there is a strain on
staffing capacity, targeted
families are prioritised which
can lead to some universal
services being delayed
Relies on staff in partner
services and agencies using
the resources in the Fact
Files with parents and
children.
Need to create more joined
up working x CC and HV
.
As above plus…
All Children Centre Services
will be reduced due to
MTFP savings from 2013
Funded now but Traded
service only from 01.04.13
6
expertise
Health Visiting Service
Integrated Therapy Service
PFSAs

Tier 3

Vulnerable Child
with Multiple and
Complex Needs




Increasingly complex needs
requiring co-ordinated multi
agency response
Parents & carers, C&YP are
engaged in problem solving
Multi agency meetings convened
Crisis management
Exceptionally an intensive single
agency response
C&YP are away from home
As above plus…
Children’s Centres
Children’s Social Care / Early Intervention
Pod
CAMHS
Educational Psychology Service
Health Visiting Service
Identification of specific areas of work
through comprehensive family health
needs assessment and in partnership with
family. Coordinated care plan to meet
needs.
Referrals to other agencies as required
Specific verbal or written advice provided
to parents/staff calling the Telephone
Advice Line.
Distribution of Advice Sheets by staff in
partner services and agencies.
Potential referral to and assessment by the
ITS.
Training of parents and staff in partner
services by ITS
Provision of advice and indirect therapy
programmes (carried out by parents and/or
staff in partner services and agencies).
Signposting and/or referral to other
services/agencies
Supporting School entry plan
ITS
As above plus...
Children Centres may contribute using
Triple P or Solihull approaches but would
not lead this work
Cases supported by either EI or CSC. EI
Pods provide support up to 12 weeks
based on the Team Around the Child
model. CSC support children who are on
CP or CIN
Parenting interventions are tailored to
needs of specific presentations. And to
support treatment of child’s mental
health difficulties. Support
/assessment also available by Carers
assessment worker.
Portage, PERSCEY, Time Together,
Relies on:
Recognition of needs and
appropriate referral to the
ITS
Sufficient capacity and skills
in the wider children’s
workforce and parents to
carry out advice and support
therapy programmes
provided by the ITS
Mechanisms to identify
families in need where not
engaged with CC..
As above plus...
PERSCEY funding may end
01.04.13
Time Together in Mendip
and Bridgwater funding
ends 01.04.13
Coordinated plan of care with regularly
scheduled visits, interlinking closely with
other agencies where required, often
working with others such as CAMHS.
7
Integrated Therapy Service
Referral to and assessment by the ITS
where appropriate.
Provision of direct or indirect therapy
programmes (carried out by parents and/or
staff in partner services and agencies).
Involvement in multi-agency meetings.
Relies on:
Sufficient capacity in the ITS
to provide more intensive
levels of support and
intervention, where
indicated, within core
funding levels
Paediatric Out Patients
Referral to paediatrics assessment if
concerns at home , nursery/ school that
child may ASD or ADHD
Involvement if identified as part of Multi
agency plan
As above plus....
Above current threshold
Relies on sufficient capacity.
Service stretched
PFSAs

Tier 4
Vulnerable Child
with Acute or
Highly Complex
Needs




High level complex needs
requiring specialist expertise
Parents/carers may not be
engaged
C&YP are away from home in
specialist placements
Legal requirement to co-operate
Parent and child placements
As above plus…
Children’s Centres
Children’s Social Care
CAMHS
Health Visiting Service
Integrated Therapy Service
As above plus....
Parent and child assessment as part of CP
Plan
Parenting interventions are tailored to
needs of specific presentations.
Close linking with other specialist services
to plan coordinated care packages, often
working with Safeguarding Nurses.
Delivery of therapeutic interventions to the
child, as appropriate, by staff in partner
services and agencies.
As above
Framework for Parenting Support Services 5-17
Level of Need
Tier 1
Child Achieving
Expected
Outcomes - has
no current
additional needs
Definition of Need


All parents and carers before
problems have been identified
Professionals, volunteers,
community groups and support
staff requiring basic info
Services providing support
Family Learning Programme
Type of support or
programmes available
Integrated Therapy Service
Positive Parenting Course (Time Out
for Parents)
SHARE Plus training
Fact File for Early Years
Fact File for School Age
ITS Advice Sheets (on website)
Telephone Advice Line
Parent Family Support Advisors
(PFSAs)
General advice and signposting.
Supporting transition into school
Risks & Gaps
Relies on staff in partner
services and agencies using
the resources in the Fact
Files with parents and
children.
Rely on parents selfreferring or schools making
referrals to PFSAs.
Lack of central funding to
support sustainable delivery
8
of Triple P or any other
identified parenting
programmes and to ensure
a sustainable training
programme for
professionals delivering this.
School Nursing Service
Somerset Skills and Learning

Tier 2
Vulnerable Child
with Some
Additional Needs


Parents experiencing specific
difficulties relating to their child’s
development, health and
wellbeing or their own
circumstances
Parents of children 0-5 identified
through the Healthy Child
Meeting or pre CAF - process
Professionals and support staff
identify low level needs for single
agency or multi agency response
and access to specialist
expertise
As above plus…
Children’s Social Care / Early Intervention Pod
CAMHS
Educational Psychology Service
Integrated Therapy Service
PFSAs
Signposting of parents to other
agencies where parenting support can
be given or parenting groups.
Written or verbal advice given to
parents on general health issues and
public health programmes
Delivery of awareness sessions on
health topics to parent’s evenings.
Liaison with HV’s with information for
all children entering school.
Time Out for Parents – course
delivered through Children Centres,
Schools and other settings
As above plus....
1-1 assessment of need and risk as
required. Co-delivery of Triple P and
group sessions
No Direct Intervention with Parents at
this level but available to consult with
other professionals/and parents if
appropriate
Growing Up
Teenage Kicks
Feel Good Parenting
Specific verbal or written advice
provided to parents/staff calling the
Telephone Advice Line.
Distribution of ITS Advice Sheets by
staff in partner services and agencies.
Potential referral to and assessment by
the ITS.
Training of parents and staff in partner
services by ITS
Provision of advice and indirect
therapy programmes (carried out by
parents and/or staff in partner services
and agencies).
Signposting and/or referral to other
services/agencies
Triple P for identified parents.
Referrals to CAMHS, CSC
Delivery of this work
depends on the capacity of
the School Nurse teams.
As above plus....
Traded service only
Traded service only
Traded service only
Relies on:
Recognition of needs and
appropriate referral to the
ITS
Sufficient capacity and skills
in the wider children’s
workforce and parents to
carry out advice and support
therapy programmes
provided by the ITS
Ensuring all involved parties
communicate.
9
School Nursing Service
Crystal Project (pilot 2012/13) Partnership
working –Schools, PFSAs and Public Health
Sign posting e.g.to CC, CAB Housing,
Shelter PCSO, Healthcare, DWP/
Benefits.
Troubled Families Initiative (Family
Focus)
Reference to and distribution of ITS
advice sheets.
Family Forest school Initiative in
Taunton and school holiday activities
for targeted families including
swimming lessons and picnic days,
Signposting and/or referral to other
services/agencies for parenting
courses.
Co-ordination care plans for children
with special medical needs with
parents and schools.
Initial assessment and planning of care
for children with nocturnal enuresis.
Not sustainable without
further funding.
Crystal Project – (Mendip Only)
Integrated Parenting and school –
based intervention.

Children identified by school
staff and PFSAs using
Behaviour and Vulnerability
Profile Tool

Outcomes and intervention
set by school staff

Individual parents meetings
held by school staff and
PFSAs

Individual and group level
Triple P provided by PFSA

Classroom-based support
provided by teaching staff

Joint evaluation 1 term and 1
year after
One-off pilot project linked
to 10 schools in
Glastonbury/Street CLP.
Future funding unlikely but
could become sustainable if
schools could fund BVPT
training and Triple P
intervention.
As above plus....
Cases supported by either EI or CSC.
EI Pods provide support up to 12
weeks based on the Team Around the
Child model. CSC support children
who are on CP or CIN
As above plus.....
Issues:
PFSA capacity
Funding from schools
Coordination and
management
Schools

Tier 3

Vulnerable Child
with Multiple and

Increasingly complex needs
requiring co-ordinated multi
agency response
Parents & carers, C&YP are
engaged in problem solving
Multi agency meetings convened
As above plus…
Children’s Social Care / Early Intervention Pod
10
Complex Needs



Crisis management
Exceptionally an intensive single
agency response
C&YP are away from home
CAMHS
Integrated Therapy Service
Paediatric Out Patients
PFSA’s
School Nursing Service

Tier 4
Vulnerable Child
with Acute or
Highly Complex
Needs




High level complex needs
requiring specialist expertise
Parents/carers may not be
engaged
C&YP are away from home in
specialist placements
Legal requirement to co-operate
Parent and child placements
Schools
As above plus…
Children’s Social Care
CAMHS
Family and Parenting team within Targeted
Youth support &Youth Offending Service
Parenting interventions are tailored to
needs of specific presentations/or to
support the treatment of ChildrenREFEED re Eating Disorders for
example or specifically tailored
interventions that try to address any
maintaining factors in the child’s
mental health difficulties. Support
/assessment also available by Carers
assessment worker.
Referral to and assessment by the ITS
where appropriate.
Provision of direct or indirect therapy
programmes (carried out by parents
and/or staff in partner services and
agencies).
Involvement in multi-agency
meetings.
Referral to paediatrics assessment if
concerns at home / school that child
may ASD or ADHD
Working with other agencies to deliver
planned parenting support / Triple P
and provide crisis support
Liaison with school attendance officers
to provide parents with advice on
illness.
Support provided to schools on public
health issues.
Co –delivery of Triple P programmes
As above plus....
Parent and child assessment as part of
CP Plan
Parenting interventions are tailored to
needs of specific presentations/or to
support the treatment of ChildrenREFEED re Eating Disorders for
example or specifically tailored
interventions that try to address any
maintaining factors in the child’s
mental health difficulties.
Referral from Youth offending Team.
Working closely with other agencies.
Parenting interventions are tailored at
reducing offending or re-offending.
Provide Triple P and individual
Relies on:
Sufficient capacity in the ITS
to provide more intensive
levels of support and
intervention, where
indicated, within core
funding levels
Relies on sufficient capacity.
Service stretched
Not all School Nurses have
undertaken Triple P training
or have delivered this work
to maintain competency.
Triple P trained nurses not
currently equitable across
the county
As above plus.....
11
support. Specialist service working
with families of young people who
have sexually harmful behaviour using
the AIM model.
12
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