Supporting Positive Parenting
We will observe, support, and evaluate a parent’s ability to meet their child(ren)’s needs. We will ensure that our approach is specifically tailored to the individual parent according to their needs. This will include the following areas, in addition to any other issues identified in the placement agreement:
- Parenting Skills: one to one support from staff to families to help parents to meet the physical and emotional developmental needs of the child (ren)
- Emotional availability: we will use means such as Video Guidance Intervention to try to support parental mentalization capacity. We also offer baby massage with Majestic’s qualified baby massage instructor to help enhance infant/ parent bonding
- Health: Our in-house qualified nurses provide appropriate health information and support so that parents can make informed decisions about their own health needs and those of their child
- Personal Development: We support parents to balance their own interests, leisure activities, education, employment etc with the needs of their child (ren). We also explore issues such as how the parent manages anger
- Relationship Analysis: We look at extended family, friends, partners and how they influence the way the parent looks after their child(ren) and how the parent (s) can create a safe and secure environment for their child (ren)
- Independent living skills: We support parents to understand the importance of the home environment i.e. the need for a clean, safe living environment, and child-focused daily routines and coping strategies for dealing with day-to-day difficulties
- Budgeting: We consider financial situations and ensure that the parent is able to manage her/his/their money so that their child (ren)’s needs are provided for
- Child Protection: We work with parents to explore types of abuse, behaviours associated with abuse and experience of abuse and how to minimise risk
- Play: We help support parents in learning how to play and interact with their child and understand the importance of play for a child’s development. We undertake in-house baby sensory classes and in-house sing and sign classes to further enhance parental knowledge and skills in respect of stimulating their child
- Safety: We support parents to understand how they can help to keep their children safe both within the home and the wider community
Growing Together: Health and Life Skills
We have a regular sexual health clinic operating from our Centres, in addition to a Nutritionist who undertakes training courses with parents to support their knowledge and insight around healthy eating.
As well as our in-house groups, we also encourage parents to attend certain locally run courses and sessions, primarily at Children’s Centres.
Many of the parents stating with us undertake Pediatric First Aid courses offered at our local Children Centres. Children are cared for by staff whilst their parents undertake any sessions which aren’t suitable for the child to be present for.
We aim to build upon family’s strengths, to provide safe parenting and improve life skills which can provide the foundation for life-long learning.
