Core Components

Parent Plus Early Years is a universal parenting programme that can also be utilised with a clinical population. It is targeted at parents of children aged 1- 6 years old. It aims to maximise children’s learning, language and social development and reduce behaviour problems. It is deemed suitable for children with additional needs such as ADHD, speech and language and other developmental difficulties as well as children within the normal range of development.

PPEY is a manualised programme delivered in 6-12 weekly sessions with each session lasting between 2 -2.5 hours. An operationalised weekly group session structure is provided to direct practitioners. Group processes include individual goal setting, guided discussion using DVD vignettes of parenting situations. Parents are assigned weekly homework tasks to help them achieve their goals, this includes filming themselves practicing the skills they have learned in the group which is reviewed by the facilitator.

The core features of the programme are listed as:

• Being a responsive parent
• Child-centred play and communication
• Supporting children’s self-esteem and confidence
• Promoting children’s language and development
• Helping children concentrate and learn
• Building cooperation in young children
• Establishing daily routines
• Managing tantrums, misbehaviour and problems

Fidelity

Group facilitators are expected to follow a Quality Protocol Checklist to ensure effective delivery of the programme and covers the following topics:

• Establishing client centred goals with families
• Following the core evidence-based principles of the programmes
• Gaining session by session feedback from clients to ensure progress
• Setting aside a weekly reflective space in supervision to review client progress and their own practice.

Modifiable Components
The universal programme runs for 6 weeks. It is suggested that the programme is delivered over 12 weeks with a clinical population. This comprises of 8 group-based sessions and 4 individual sessions with a facilitator who will review parent’s films of them interacting with their child.

 

Training in the Parents Plus Early Years programme is held bi-annually in Dublin and lasts for 3 days. Agencies can contact Parent Plus to request on- site training for larger groups of staff.

Support for Organisation / Practice

An agency readiness guide is available to sites considering implementation. Additional support can be provided to agencies to implement and evaluate the roll out of the Parents Plus Programmes. This includes meeting with site managers and PPEY trainers approximately 6 months prior to initial training to address the implementation requirements and licensing guidelines. Service managers are expected to attend this meeting to ensure that they are fully aware of and in agreement with the implementation requirements.

The organisation is required to form a steering group, consisting of potential referrers, funders and managers, who oversee the implementation and appointing of a co-ordinator.

Licensing requirements

A license is required to deliver the programme and licensing guidelines listing the conditions for use by facilitators are available.

Data

Any data collected is the property and responsibility of the implementing site. Data analysis can be provided by PPEY for an additional cost.

Start-up costs

Scheduled trainings are held twice annually in Dublin, Ireland. PPEY offer the following training options:

· The cost of a 3-day training, which includes training materials = €730 per person.
· A 3-day training place only (for those who wish to re-use previously purchased materials or are sharing materials with another facilitator - €430).
· Onsite trainings can be arranged and depending on the number of trainees, this can cost between €140-€400 per attendee.
· Programme Materials- €500.
· Parent Booklets – pack of 15 parent booklets, which includes worksheets and handouts – €120

Follow up costs

· Accreditation package costs €350 and submission is €150.
· Group supervision is offered via ½ day workshops with a focus on meeting other facilitators and sharing practice issues.
· There is no cost for the ½ day advanced practice workshops.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

Facilitator training is only open to childcare, mental health, family support and education professionals, who work directly with children and families. This is to build upon the existing professional training and experience of staff. Examples of professionals include social workers, speech and language therapists, teachers, public health nurses, health visitors, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

Training Requirements

It is compulsory that facilitators attend the three-day training course before delivering the Parents Plus materials to parents. The content of the training comprises of:
Day 1- Understanding the Parents Plus Children’s Programme
Day 2 - Delivering Individual and Family Sessions
Day 3 - Facilitating Groups with Parents - Covers the Facilitator Accreditation Process, which details the process and requirements that need to be met to become an accredited facilitator.

Supervision Requirements

All facilitators are required to have regular agency supervision by an agency manager trained in the programme, throughout the delivery of a group. This is to support the facilitator with any potential child protection/agency issues and assist with the challenges of running a group.

Parents Plus Early Years offer accreditation to facilitators who have delivered a minimum of two groups following the PP quality protocol. Facilitators need to submit a portfolio of their work to the PPEY training board as evidence that they have achieved the standard required to become an accredited facilitator. Supervision from a PPEY supervisor is a requirement if a facilitator is pursuing accreditation. An individual 50-minute supervision session with a PPEY trainer, via skype or face to face, costs €60.

 

Studies of the effectiveness of PPEY have consistently demonstrated improvements in child behaviour and reduction in parental stress.

Theory of Change

The PPEY programme is informed by developmental psychology; including social and cognitive learning theory. The overarching practice framework is solution focused systemic therapy. Group facilitators work collaboratively with families, both in the group setting and in individual parent-child sessions, to help them set and achieve their goals. This involves the use of role play and video modelling. Parents practice new skills at home and receive strength-based feedback from the facilitators. Parents’ goals are reviewed at each session and adaptations are made to the programme if needed.

Values 

Parents Plus Early Years believes in empowering the professionals and families they work with. The programme is focused on encouraging children and parents to achieve their potential and their professional training is focused on encouraging professionals to achieve the highest standards of excellence. 

• Is the delivery of Parents Plus Early Years aligned with the key values of your organisation?

Priorities 

The programme can be utilised as a preventative approach or a targeted intervention for parents of children age 1-6 years. An independent evaluation of childcare services carried out over 2 years in several disadvantaged areas in Ireland, found the programme improved the home learning environment of these children. 

• Is working with parents of babies and young children in an early intervention approach a priority for your organisation?
• Is the delivery of targeted services to families aligned with the key values and priorities of your organisation?
• Are improvements of children’s development, learning and mental health, priority outcomes for your organisation?

Existing Initiatives  

• Does your service already provide early intervention programmes aiming to improve child development and mental health outcomes?
• Will this programme fit with the existing parenting interventions in your area?

Workforce 

Parents Plus Early Years requires 2 trained facilitators to deliver each parenting group over a period of at least 6 weeks for 2-2.5hrs per week. The programme developers also recommend facilitators set aside 1-1.5hrs for weekly review and planning time, (an additional 1-2 hrs are required when running a group for the first time). Facilitators pursuing accreditation will require an additional 5-15hrs to complete their portfolio.  

• Do you have practitioners with a professional qualification in childcare who would be interested in becoming group facilitators?
• Do these practitioners have experience working with parents and children in a group setting?
• Do you have practitioners available with the capacity to deliver the requirements of this programme?
• Do these practitioners have experience in working in a collaborative, solution focussed way to support families?

The programme requires a supervisor from the implementing agency to oversee delivery and provide support and guidance for any issues that may arise.  

• Do you have appropriate staff experienced in supervising others and would be available to be trained in the model and provide weekly supervision to the practitioners?

Technology Support 

Essential equipment required to run the programme include a DVD player and TV/screen. The use of filming equipment is also required to maintain fidelity and submit practitioner’s films for the accreditation process. 

• Do you have the technology to support practitioners to deliver the programme?
• Will staff have regular access to a computer for remote supervision meetings?

Administrative Support 

Parents Plus Early Years advises that a steering group is set up to oversee the implementation of the programme. This includes the appointment of a co-ordinator. 

• Does your current organisational structure have the capacity to set up and monitor implementation processes?
• Would you be able to appoint a co-ordinator with the capacity to take on this role?
• Do your current administrative procedures support your practitioners to implement a programme like this?
• Do you have use of facilities that are suitable and available for the duration of the group delivery?

Financial Support 

• Do you have the finances to pay for practitioners to attend this training and be released from their role to deliver the group?
• Are you able to offer financial support to practitioners who wish to pursue the accreditation process?
• Do you have the finances to pay for workbooks for parents and the printing of worksheets, leaflets and handouts for the delivery of the programme?
• Is there access to finances to provide refreshments for the parents for the duration of the group?

Comparable Population  

Parents Plus Early Years is a universal programme, which also targets parents of children between the ages of 1 to 6 years with behavioural difficulties. It has been successfully implemented with families suffering from stress related to multiple disadvantage. 

• Is this an identified population of particular concern to your organisation?
• Are you likely to receive sufficient referrals to populate recurring groups?

Desired Outcome 

The Parents Plus Early Years programme aims to reduce behaviour problems in children and maximise their potential. It is also suitable for children with additional needs such as ADHD, speech and language and other developmental difficulties. Research has shown significant improvement in children’s conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, prosocial behaviour as well as a reduction in emotional symptoms. There are several studies which show a reduction in parental stress.   

• Does your organisation have contact with families who would benefit from this intervention?
• Do you have existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing this need and achieving these outcomes?