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Category: Solution-Focused Groupwork

  • Unlock Your Full Potential with Our Professional Programmes

    Unlock Your Full Potential with Our Professional Programmes

    Our evidence-based programmes for professionals who work in Community, Health, Education and Disability services, are backed by over 26 years of research and have proven benefits for families.

    In the last 10 years alone, we have supported over 1,000 organisations, in Ireland and internationally, to create sustainable change in their service delivery, strengthening over 100,000 families.

    Our programmes’ training and supervision are suitable for a range of professionals working in services such as HSE Primary Care, CAMHS, Family Resource Centres, Disability, Education (EWS, HSCL, SCP, Primary and Secondary) as well as Youth Services.

    Below are upcoming programme training dates available to book.  From the early years to adolescence, ADHD and Special Needs, or parenting when separated, our wide range of proven programmes will empower you to improve outcomes for children and families and enhance your service delivery.
    Book Your Training Today
    The ADHD programme is a new modified version of the evidence based Parents Plus Children’s programme that addresses the needs of parents of children with ADHD aged 6-12 years. The programme is flexible and can be delivered to small groups or with individuals over 8-12 weeks.

    To deliver the ADHD programme you must first train in the Parents Plus Children’s Programme*
    Then you can complete a special two module training in the ADHD programme

    The training focuses on:
    – Developing an in-depth understanding of the needs of families with a child with ADHD
    – Delivering the programme via face-to-face and online sessions, to groups and individual families
    – Providing opportunities to observe and practise the skills to become a solution-focused facilitator
    – Building on parents strengths as a basis for ongoing change
    – Strengthening inter-agency and community partnerships
    Book Your Training Today
    Parenting When Separated Programme Training for Professionals
    Our Parenting When Separated facilitator training is practical and solution-focused and will provide you with the essential skills and learning to achieve the best outcomes for the parents and families who attend your service.

    The training focuses on:
    – Developing an in-depth understanding of this programme delivering the programme via face-to-face and online sessions to groups and individual families
    – Providing opportunities to observe and practise the skills to become a solution-focused facilitator
    – Building on parents’ strengths as a basis for ongoing change
    – Strengthening inter-agency and community partnerships
    Book Your Training Today
    Working Things Out – Youth Mental Health Programme Training for Professionals
    The Working Things Out facilitator training is practical and solution-focused and will provide you with the essential skills and learning to achieve the best outcomes for the adolescents who attend your service.

    The training focuses on: 
    – Developing an in-depth understanding of this programme
    – Delivering the programme via face-to-face and online sessions to groups and individual young people
    – Providing opportunities to observe and practise the skills to become a solution-focused facilitator
    – Building on parents strengths as a basis for ongoing change
    – Strengthening inter-agency and community partnerships
    Book Your Training Today
    The Parents Plus Children’s Programme Training For Professionals

    The Parents Plus Children’s Programme is practical and solution-focused. It will provide you with the essential skills and learning to achieve the best outcomes for the parents and families who attend your services.

    The training focuses on:
    – Developing an in-depth understanding of this programme
    – Delivering the programme via face-to-face and online sessions, to groups and individual families
    – Providing opportunities to observe and practise the skills to become a solution-focused facilitator
    – Building on parent’s strengths as a basis for ongoing change
    – Strengthening inter-agency and community partnerships
    Book Your Training Today
    The Parents Plus Adolescents Programme Training For Professionals

    The teenage years can be a challenging time for many families. Helping parents develop warm relationships with their teenagers reduces conflict and supports them to grow up as well-adjusted and happy adults. 

    The training focuses on the following:
    – Developing an in-depth understanding of this programme
    delivering the programme via face-to-face and online sessions to groups and individual families
    – Providing opportunities to observe and practise the skills to become a solution-focused facilitator
    – Building on parents’ strengths as a basis for ongoing change
    – Strengthening inter-agency and community partnerships
    Book Your Training Today
    The Parents Plus Special Needs Programme Training For Professionals

    Parents of children with an intellectual disability can face significant challenges, especially during the adolescent years. With our Special Needs Programme, you can support parents to manage these challenges, improve their family’s well-being and strengthen their links with other parents.


    The training focuses on the following:
    – Developing an in-depth understanding of this programme
    – Delivering the programme via face-to-face and online sessions to groups and individual families
    – Providing opportunities to observe and practise the skills to become a solution-focused facilitator
    – Building on parents’ strengths as a basis for ongoing change
    – Strengthening inter-agency and community partnerships

    Additional InformationTo discuss how you can achieve the best outcomes in your agency and to discuss commissioning our training and make bookings please go to www.parentsplus.ie or contact +353 1 8545185 / or email vicki@parentsplus.ie for further info.

    Book Your Training Today
    As part of our evidence-based programme training packages, you will receive two free supervision sessions post-training, to support you further in improving outcomes for children and families.   We also provide a range of post-training supports for facilitators and agencies who have trained in one of our professional programmes to ensure sustainable and effective delivery of the programmes within their services.Visit our website to see our latest Group Supervision Dates or learn what is involved in  Group Supervision/Peer Learning Sessions. 

  • New Research Confirms Positive Impact of Parents Plus Programme on Special Needs Children with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families

    New Research Confirms Positive Impact of Parents Plus Programme on Special Needs Children with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families

    Parents Plus, a leading provider of evidence-based parenting programmes for services, has released new research showing the positive impact of their Special Needs Programme on children with special needs and their families.

    The research, conducted by Dr Suzanne McMahon and colleagues at the School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, and published in the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, evaluated the effectiveness of the Parents Plus Special Needs Programme (PPSN), a seven-week parenting group intervention for parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

    In a cluster randomised controlled trial, 24 intellectual disability services supporting families of adolescents with an intellectual disability were assigned to PPSN (12 services; 141 parents) or a waitlist control group (12 services; 136 parents). Primary outcomes were parent-reported parenting practices, family adjustment, problem behaviours, emotional problems, and prosocial behaviours. Secondary outcomes were parental satisfaction, parental self-efficacy, and goal attainment.

    Key findings from the research include:

    Improved Child Outcomes. The programme effectively improves children’s behaviour, emotional regulation, and social skills. Parents reported that their children showed significant improvements in these areas, including better communication, increased ability to express emotions appropriately, and improved social interaction with peers.

    The programme effectively improves children’s behaviour, emotional regulation, and social skills. Parents reported that their children showed significant improvements in these areas, including better communication, increased ability to express emotions appropriately, and improved social interaction with peers.

    Enhanced Parental Wellbeing: The programme also had a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of parents, reducing their stress levels and improving their relationships with their children. Parents reported feeling more connected to their children and more able to enjoy their time together.

    Improved Professional Practice: Professionals who received training in the programme reported feeling more knowledgeable and confident in supporting families of children with special needs. They also reported that the programme provided them with practical strategies and tools that they could use in their work with families.

    The Parents Plus Special Needs Programme is a 6-8 week group-based intervention designed to support professionals working with parents and carers of children with intellectual disabilities including developmental disabilities such as autism, and ADHD. Delivered by trained professionals working in the community, education, health and disability services the programme focuses on reducing stress and supporting parent and child well-being. 

    Commenting on the research, Dr John Sharry, Founder and Clinical Director of Parents Plus, said: “We are thrilled with the positive results of this research. The Special Needs Programme was developed in partnership with families and disability services and has always been grounded in evidence-based practice, and this study shows that it is a powerful tool for promoting the well-being of children and families.  We are delighted to see that it is making a real difference in their lives.”

    Ciara Ni Raghallaigh, Parents Plus Special Needs Programme Coordinator says of the research  “Clinicians and therapists working with children and families who are facing the challenges of raising a child with special needs will be heartened by this recent research. As someone who has worked in disability services for many years using Parents Plus programmes, I have seen first-hand the transformative impact that this programme can have on families, and I am delighted that this research has provided further validation of its effectiveness.”

    With the prevalence of special needs children increasing worldwide, the findings of this research highlight the importance of evidence-based interventions that ensure services are supporting parents and carers in promoting positive outcomes for children with special needs. The Parents Plus Special Needs Programme provides a valuable resource for professionals working with children and adolescents with special needs and their families.

    Download the research paper hereDownload

    Earlier this year our CEO, Cherie Tyner and Ciara Ni Raghallaigh, Special Needs Programme Co-Ordinator had the honour of presenting to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters for consideration of Family Centred Practice and Parent Training Interventions. You can read about this important day for our organisation and this unique and vital programme here.

    The Parents Plus Special Needs Programme is practical, solution-focused and draws on parents strengths. It is suitable for professionals including social workers, therapists, teachers to assist parents who are raising an older child or adolescent with a mild, moderate or severe intellectual disability, and who may also have an additional diagnosis, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or a physical disability.

    See here or click the image below for more information on the Special Needs programme.