Author: John Harvey

Empowering Change: The Real-World Impact of Parents Plus Programmes

At Parents Plus, our mission extends beyond developing evidence-based programmes—we are dedicated to witnessing these programmes flourish in diverse settings, directly impacting families, educators, and community support workers.

Across the UK and Ireland, our programmes are making significant inroads into communities, guided by the hands of committed professionals. Here, we explore a series of case studies that highlight the transformative effects of our initiatives in various regions.

Regional Collaboration in North-East England

A significant regional collaboration in the North-East of England—encompassing Northumberland, South Tyneside, Newcastle, and Gateshead—has adopted the Parenting When Separated programme. This initiative is integrated through Early Help and Family Hubs, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to supporting families during separation. The collaborative nature of this rollout underscores the scalability of Parents Plus programmes, adapting to regional needs while fostering a community of practice among professionals.

Learn more – https://www.parentspluscharity.com/post/parenting-when-separated-case-study/

North Somerset’s Family Support Success

In North Somerset, Leanne Pugh, a dedicated Family Support Worker, has been implementing the Parents Plus Working Things Out Programme with great success. This programme has been crucial in helping families develop effective communication and problem-solving skills, which are vital in navigating the complexities of adolescent development. Through her efforts, families report improved relationships and better conflict resolution, showcasing the programme’s effectiveness in real-world settings.

Discover more – https://www.parentspluscharity.com/news/working-things-out-in-north-sommerst/

Early Years Education in Falkirk, Scotland

Further north, in Falkirk, Scotland, Susi Wakely, a Senior Educational Psychologist, has rolled out the Parents Plus Early Years Programme. Her work focuses on equipping parents with skills to support their children’s early development. The programme’s success in Falkirk highlights its adaptability and efficacy, helping parents enhance nurturing environments that promote early learning and development.

Find out more – https://www.parentspluscharity.com/news/parents-plus-early-years-programme-in-falkirk/

Supporting Additional Needs in Scotland

Also in Scotland, Alice Grant, an Additional Support Needs (ASN) Outreach Teacher, delivers the Parents Plus Early Years Programme to families with special needs. Alice’s work emphasises tailored support, ensuring that the programme effectively addresses the unique challenges faced by these families, fostering significant developmental progress in children with additional needs.

Read more – https://www.parentspluscharity.com/news/parents-plus-in-partnership-with-falkirk-council/

Parenting When Separated in Hertfordshire

In Hertfordshire, England, Nicola Wilder from the Council’s Development and Commissioning Office has been instrumental in the rollout of the Parents Plus Parenting When Separated Programme. Funded by the Department of Work and Pensions Reducing Parental Conflict programme, this initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce parental conflict. Nicola’s leadership in this project is a prime example of how structured support can aid families in navigating the emotional challenges of separation, providing parents with the tools to maintain a supportive environment for their children.

Learn more – https://www.parentspluscharity.com/news/hertfordshire-council-case-study/

The Real World Impact

These case studies illustrates the real world impact of the Parents Plus programmes across different regions and settings. Each story is a testament to the dedication of professionals who deliver these programmes and the resilience of families who embrace them. At Parents Plus, we are proud to support this network of change-makers and continue to innovate and expand our reach to meet the evolving needs of families and communities. As we move forward, we remain committed to empowering professionals and improving the well-being of children and families through evidence-based, practical solutions.

For those interested in learning more about our training or seeking to partner with us, please feel free to contact Impact Lead Vicki Byrne at vicki@parentsplus.ie.

Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families.

May 3, 2024
Unlocking CPD Benefits With Parents Plus
In today’s fast-evolving healthcare landscape, continuous professional development (CPD) remains the cornerstone for healthcare professionals eager to keep their knowledge updated, and services impactful.

Parents Plus, cognizant of the pivotal role CPD plays, is delighted to offer a FREE online seminar, Improving Outcomes for Children with ADHD by Empowering Parents.

In this update we will explore why our FREE online seminar stands out as a CPD opportunity and goes beyond its enlightening content on empowering parents for better ADHD outcomes.

Who is this Seminar for?
The FREE seminar is suitable for a range of professionals, including:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Teams
- Primary Care Teams
- GPs
- Family Support Services
- Early Intervention and Prevention Teams
- Teachers
- ADHD charities
- Child Protection Teams
Why Attend the Parents Plus Seminar?
1. Evidence-Based Insights: The seminar is poised to bring forth insights rooted in real-world case studies, experiences, and research.
2. Diverse Perspectives: Learn directly from professionals, including Dr. Blánaid Gavin and Professor John Sharry, providing a rounded, holistic understanding of the subject.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage in discussions, Q&A sessions, and network with peers.
What is the purpose of CPD for healthcare professionals?

CPD serves as an educational process, facilitating professionals in maintaining and enhancing their knowledge, skills, and abilities. It’s a commitment to lifelong learning – professionals who make this commitment for their service users are ensuring that they receive the highest quality care informed by the latest research, techniques, and methodologies.

What is the importance and benefits of CPD?
1. Knowledge & Skill Augmentation: CPD allows professionals to fill gaps in their expertise, ensuring they remain effective, competent, and meet both short and long-term career goals.
2. Staying Updated: Healthcare is an ever-evolving field. CPD ensures that professionals are not just updated but are at the forefront of these changes.
3. Increased Confidence: Regular CPD ensures healthcare professionals have the utmost confidence in their skills and knowledge, promoting a higher degree of patient trust.
4. Professional Network Expansion: CPD often presents opportunities for professionals to connect with peers and experts, expanding their professional network and opening doors to collaborations, partnerships, and referrals.
What are the benefits of CPD for you, service users, and your service?
- For You: Beyond skill and knowledge augmentation, CPD empowers professionals with a renewed sense of purpose, direction, and motivation in their roles. It can also serve as a roadmap for career advancement and specialization.
- Service User: Professionals working with families and children who are committed to CPD give their service users access to the most recent and effective interventions, treatments, and care. It ensures safety, efficacy, and can lead to better health outcomes.
- For the Service: Organizations that prioritize CPD find themselves better equipped to adapt to industry changes, ensure patient satisfaction, and maintain a reputation for excellence in care delivery.
How can I integrate this FREE CPD opportunity into my professional journey?
- You can register to attend our online seminar ‘Improving Outcomes for Children with ADHD by Empowering Parents’ here.
- You can Click here to add the seminar details to your calendar.
- You can recognise the potential for professional growth and share with peers who’d value this opportunity.
Parents Plus is a charity that builds the capacity of services to improve outcomes for families by training and supervising professionals in our eight flagship evidence-based parenting and mental health programmes.

If you’re interested in discussing training and supervision for your team, securing discounts for bookings of six or more people, or learning our tailored support in the roll-out and evaluation of the programmes to ensure effective community-wide delivery, please reach out.

Contact our Impact Lead, Vicki Byrne, at vicki@parentsplus.ie or phone 085-8705772.
August 25, 2023

Workshop: ‘Skills in Running Effective Online Programmes’

As we approach the end of January we wanted to help make sure you get the most out of 2023 by inviting you to a FREE online seminar that focuses on running effective online programmes.

The benefits of online parent programmes delivery are multiple, the convenience and accessibility for parents, the support offered by interacting with other parents with similar challenges in the group discussions and breakout rooms, the fact that more couples/parents who are parenting together can attend, good attendance levels overall and the cost-effectiveness of running group programmes online. Though many services have reverted to in-person programmes post-Covid, which is great, it also makes sense to also have an online group offer to draw more parents into accessing this valuable support and parenting resource.

This special practice seminar on ‘Running Effective Online Parents Plus Programmes’ takes place on 8th February from 10 am to 12 pm online via Zoom.

The session will showcase and support the work of the practitioners and services who successfully deliver the Parent Plus programme online in various settings throughout Ireland and the UK. You are most welcome to attend if you are a practitioner who is already trained in any Parents Plus programme and are delivering or planning to deliver an online group to parents in your service.

Managers who are looking at online delivery for 2023 are also welcome and will benefit.
The seminar is free to attend but you must register below

FREE Seminar: Running Effective Online Parents Plus Programmes –
Wednesday 8th February from 10 am to 12 pm online via Zoom.

10 am – Opening and Welcome – Dr Eileen Brosnan, Parents Plus.

10:15 am – Delivering services online, advantages and disadvantages. Prof John Sharry, Parents Plus.

10:30 am – Rolling out the Parents Plus Children’s Programme – A hybrid model (online & in person) – The North Somerset experience. Graham Pascoe, Parenting Co-ordinator and Schools Link and Lauren Nurse, Parenting and Early Help Business Support both from North Somerset Council.

10:50 am – Parents Plus Children’s Programme Online – Working with a diverse range of parents and needs – Evija Nwaneri, Parenting Cavan Facilitator and Chairperson Cavan Multicultural Network and Vanda Brady, Outreach Ireland and Cavan Cross-Cultural Community.

11:10 Break

11.15 am – Delivering the Parenting When Separated Programme – A coordinated approach across the mid-west FRC network with referral links to the local Court Services – Pat Fitzpatrick, Northside Family Resource Centre, Limerick.

11.35 am – Breakouts – Overcoming organisational and practice challenges in online PP Programme delivery – sharing learning.

11:50 am – Consolidating skills and learning – Moving forward with the online work.

12:00 – Finish

There will also be a chance to network in breakouts to share ideas on overcoming organisational and practice challenges in online programme delivery

Workshop Registration

Practice Seminar: Running Effective Online Parents Plus Programmes –
8th February from 10 am to 12 pm online via Zoom.

Setting up and running online groups successfully requires time and planning, as well as effective group session facilitation. To aid you in this we have developed this seminar where we share our collective learning from running the groups remotely over the last three years.
This seminar aims to help you with:
Getting online programmes off the ground and fine-tuning your online delivery skills including:Recruiting parents and pre-programme workSupporting parents’ participation, and the therapeutic elementsDrawing in quieter members and managing those with high levels of needEnsuring all participants gain a sense of connection and can give and receive support from one another.Maintaining the strengths-based practice model while running online programmesEnsuring the programme topics are covered – balancing programme content with parent discussion time. Using ‘breakouts’ effectively for small group work, worksheets and exercises.

Workshop Registration

The workshop is for trained Parents Plus Programme Facilitators and managers and will be taking place on February 8th from 10 am – 12 pm.

To get in touch directly with Eileen Brosnan to discuss delivering online programmes please click ‘Email Eileen’ below

Email Eileen

January 30, 2023

Learn More About Our On Going Support For Professionals Working in Community, Health, Education and Disability Services
We provide a range of post-training supports for facilitators and agencies who want to ensure sustainable and effective delivery of the programmes within their services.

Our training and supports are designed to improve outcomes for families, through our evidence-based parenting and mental health programmes.

Research shows that families achieve the best outcomes when facilitators and their managers are supported pre and post-training when delivering programmes or education. This is why we provide an extensive package of pre and post-training supports to our facilitators and managers in order to ensure a sustainable and effective delivery of the programmes within their agency or service.

Our comprehensive package of support for professionals and managers working in Community, Health, Education and Disability Services includes –
- Implementation support to get groups off the ground, including planning workshops and coaching for managers.
- Individual and group supervision sessions with an experienced Parents Plus Trainer.
- Advanced training workshops on specific topics.
- Extra resources to facilitate delivery, e.g. fliers, posters, certificates, practice articles, parenting articles, and supplementary handouts.
- Support to promote your Parents Plus courses in your community.
- Advice and guidance on evaluating and monitoring outcomes in your agency to ensure your groups are effective.
- Access to two individual supervision sessions free of charge in the first year post-training.
The Parents Plus Programmes are robustly evidence-based and currently over 25 studies conducted in clinical, community and disability settings attest to their effectiveness for families with children and adolescents of all ages, dealing with a variety of challenges and issues. Our Programs are systemic, solution-focused, group-based interventions designed for delivery in clinical and community settings as treatment programs.

These programmes are designed for families with child-focused problems, such as behavioural difficulties, disruptive behaviour disorders, and emotional disorders in young people with and without developmental
disabilities.

Our programmes have been developed for families of pre-schoolers, preadolescent children, and teenagers, as well as for separated or divorced families. Studies involving over 1,000 families have shown that our programs have a significant impact on child behaviour problems, goal attainment, and parental satisfaction and stress.

You can read more details about our pre- and post-training supports here!

All profits from Parents Plus sales of programme training and supervision is re-invested in developing new evidence-based programmes to respond to the evolving needs of families, and to sponsor facilitator training and supports of services with limited budgets, who work with high need families.
January 9, 2023