Core Components

ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated is a supportive educational programme targeting parents (custodial and non-custodial) who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce with children between the age of 1-16 years. The programme aims to help parents become responsive to their children’s and their own needs and highlights practical steps parents can take to help their children cope and thrive as well as coping successfully themselves recognising that family separation can put extra stress on both parents and children and brings new challenges. 

ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated is a manualised programme delivered over 6 weekly sessions with each session lasting 2.5 hours to small groups with a mix of mothers and fathers.  It is recommended that separating/separated couples attend separate groups that run close in time.  An operationalised weekly group session structure is provided for practitioners.  

Core materials include a comprehensive Facilitator manual with session protocols; a Parent Booklet with detailed handouts and worksheets and a parent’s book “Parenting When Separated: Helping Your Children Cope and Thrive”; worksheets, handouts, group exercises and a homework element. The programme does not include a DVD.  Additional materials are accessible via a special members section on the website.

The main aims of the programme are:

• Solve co-parenting problems in a positive way that focuses on the needs of children.

• Cope with the emotional impact of separation and learn stress management techniques. 

• Help their children cope with the impact of the separation both emotionally and practically. 

• Enhance communication with their children and with their children's other parent.

Fidelity

The Parent Plus - Parenting When Separated programme includes a ParentsPlus Quality Protocol which is designed to be used by facilitators to maintain both the delivery format and the client-centred/strengths-based principles at the heart of the programme.  The protocol includes:

• Establishing client centred goals with families with underpinning checklists

• 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.

In addition to the Quality Protocol (1) Standardised training (2) Agency organisational supports including a manual and range of materials/tools and (3) Coaching and Accreditation programmes aim to support effective replication and fidelity.

Modifiable Components 

This targeted programme runs for 6 weeks preferably with a mix of mothers and fathers.  Where separating/separated couples are invited to attend it is recommended that the format is modified, due to the emotive nature of some topics and discussions, to allow parents to participate in separate groups although run close in time. 

Materials for this programme are available only in English.

Support for Organisation / Practice

ParentsPlus is based in Dublin, Ireland.  ParentsPlus - Parents When Separated is one of seven programmes.

Implementation Support

An agency readiness guide is available for sites considering implementation. Additional support can be provided to agencies to implement and evaluate the roll out of the ParentsPlus Programmes. ParentsPlus also offer support to promote and market new organisation’s programmes to get them off the ground along with advice on evaluating outcomes –available at additional cost. Implementation supports also include a meeting with site managers and Parents Plus 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 is, consisting of potential referrers, funders and managers, to 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 ParentsPlus at an additional cost. 

Start-up Costs

Scheduled training is held two to three times per year in Dublin, Ireland. The following training options are available for ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated: 

• 2-day training, which includes programme materials - €650 per person.

• 2-day training place only (for those who wish to re-use previously purchased programme materials or are sharing materials with another facilitator - €350.

• Onsite training, upon request and depending on the number of trainees, costing between €200 - €400 per attendee (excluding trainer accommodation and travel).

• Parents Booklets – pack of 15 parent booklets which includes worksheets and handouts - €120.

Follow-up Costs

• Accreditation package costs €350 including submission of portfolio for review.  

• Individual supervision 1-hour in duration per session costs €60 per facilitator.

• Group supervision is offered via ½ day workshops with a focus on meeting other facilitators and sharing practice issues - costs €60 per facilitator.

• Parents Plus also offer periodic ½ day advanced practice workshops that trained facilitators can sign up for at low or no cost.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

Facilitator training is only open to trained professionals in the field of childcare, mental health, family support and education professionals such as social workers, speech and language therapists, teachers, public health nurses, health visitors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. 

Training Requirements

Facilitators are required to attend a programme specific two-day training course before delivering ParentsPlus materials to parents. The content of the training covers three core areas (1) Understanding the ParentsPlus Parenting When Separated Programme (2) Delivering Individual and Family Sessions (3) Facilitating Groups with Parents.   Facilitators will also be given the opportunity to practice the skills in role play and will receive feedback and support.

A train the trainer model is available to ensure a long-term, sustainable benefit for facilitators’ communities and organisations.

Supervision Requirements

ParentsPlus offer post-training support to assist Facilitators in the delivery of their groups in the form of Supervision, Advanced Practice Groups and Individual Supervision available face to face or via Skype.

Supervision is a requirement and it is recommended that a mixture of individual and group sessions is undertaken. Two follow-up supervision sessions, typically of a 50-60-minute duration, are included in the cost of the training to be undertaken in the first 12 months post training.  Ongoing supervision thereafter is available, individual supervision €60 (1 hour) and group supervision workshop €60 (3.5 hours).

An established Accreditation process is available for facilitator’s who wish to pursue this option. The full Accreditation package, which includes four supervision sessions, accreditation submission with portfolio review, is available at a cost of €350.

Theory of Change 

ParentsPlus programmes, including ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated, are grounded in developmental psychology, social learning theory, solution-focused therapy and family system theory and therapy. The overarching practice framework is solution focused systemic therapy.  Group facilitators work collaboratively with families 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

ParentsPlus 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.  Parent Plus Parent When Separated is designed to be child-focused, skills-based, promoting communication between parents and encouraging positive co-parenting and conflict resolution skills.

• Is the delivery of ParentsPlus Parenting When Separated aligned with the key values of your organisation?

Priorities

The programme can be utilised as a supportive educational programme that prioritises being child-focused, skills-based, promotes communication between partners and encourages positive co-parenting and conflict resolution. 

• Is working with parents that are separating, or have separated a current priority for your organisation?

Existing Initiatives 

• Will this programme fit with the existing parenting interventions in your area?

Workforce

ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated requires 2 trained facilitators to deliver each parenting group over a period of 6 weeks for 2.5 hrs per week.  In addition, it is recommended that facilitators set aside 1-1.5 hrs for weekly review and planning time (an additional 1-2 hrs are required when running a group for the first time), reflection and form completion necessary for accreditation which requires 0.5-1 hr and facilitators pursuing accreditation which require 5-15 hrs for portfolio completion.

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

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

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

Technology Support

Essential equipment required to run the programme include a computer and use of filming equipment 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

ParentsPlus advises a steering group to oversee the implementation of the programme. This includes the appointment of a co-ordinator. In addition, recruitment of parents, receiving referrals, collecting and reporting on evaluation data and feedback, printing of materials along with co-ordinating cycles of delivery of the programme requires administrative support.

• Does your current organisational structure have the capacity to set up and monitor implementation processes?
• Would you be able to recruit 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?

Financial Support

Start-up costs include training and materials €650 per person or €350 if re-using materials / sharing; parent booklets at €120; training as part of an onsite cohort costing between €200 - €400; supervision (individual or group) at a cost of €60 per person per session.

• Do you have the finances to pay for practitioners to attend this training and be released from their role to deliver the group?
• Do you have the finances to support practitioners undertake supervision and to go through 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 

ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated is aimed at parents (custodial and non-custodial) who are preparing, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce. 

Research has been undertaken including separated parents (custodial and non-custodial) in Ireland.

• Does your organisation have contact with families who would benefit from this intervention?
• Are you likely to receive sufficient referrals to populate recurring groups?
• Do you have existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing this need and achieving these outcomes?

Desired Outcome

ParentsPlus - Parenting When Separated is a preventative intervention designed to be delivered in the community setting for parents, with children aged 1-16 years, who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce to help children cope and thrive as well as their parents.

Research has identified that programme has delivered significant improvements in child adjustment, clinical improvement of target children’s behavioural problems, client goal attainment, parenting satisfaction, parent adjustment and interparental conflict.

• Do you have other existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing this need and achieving these outcomes?