Children in Wales’ Parents’ Week Conference this year will be around the theme of strengthening the contribution of parenting support services to early intervention family support.  Participants will be considering key messages from early intervention research including what are the main principles and ingredients of successful parenting programmes. We will share knowledge about how to strengthen implementation efforts and consider policy developments, new initiatives, and good practice on the ground in Wales. Small workshops will support discussions on a range of topics relating to policy and practice including Welsh Government’s new parenting guidance, measuring the impact of your service, effective use of the pupil deprivation grant in parenting support, and more to be confirmed.
 
THE PROGRAMME

Parenting Programmes:  What Works?

Kirsten Asmussen, Evidence Analyst at the Early Intervention Foundation. 

Kirsten will speak about what we know from research about what makes an effective parenting intervention.

Welsh Government approach to parenting support – Keynote speech from Vaughan Gething AM, Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty

Key messages from the National Parenting Coordinators’ Network

Gail Bennett, Flintshire CC and Chair of Network. Gail will present on the range of strategic policy and practice issues on which members of the Network collaborate in order to promote and support best practice across Wales.

Opportunities and challenges for planning and delivery

Shelley Davies, Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, Powys CYPP

Dr. Sue Evans, Consultant Child Psychologist, Powys Teaching Health Board

Shelley and Sue will discuss the early intervention strategy developed by Powys Children and Young People’s partnership, which involves strategic coordination and delivery of complementary programmes for Parents, children, schools and early years settings.  They will share the strategic approach used in Powys and the outcomes achieved and consider the opportunities and challenges.

Role of early intervention in supporting parents through transition 

Angela Davies, Director, Creative Parent Engagement UK  

Moving up to secondary school can be a time of anxiety for parents/carers as well as children.  In her presentation Angela Davies will explore the potential and challenges of adopting an early intervention based approach to supporting parents through the transition process.  Looking first at the research base and rationale behind this area of work she will then talk about example projects she is currently involved in.

Supporting Parents of teenagers

Dr John Coleman, a clinical psychologist with an international reputation for his work with parents and young people, will speak about his recently published book “Why won’t my teenager talk to me?”.  He will describe the new framework he has developed, the STAGE framework, designed to help parents become more confident and more resilient.  The framework draws on current research and on Dr Coleman’s experience in running workshops for parents of teenagers.
 

BOOK YOUR PREFERRED WORKSHOP

– How to develop and evaluate a parenting intervention:  Ten steps for success – Facilitator:  Kirsten Asmussen, Evidence Analyst at the Early Intervention Foundation.
– Supporting parents via the Pupil Deprivation Grant  – facilitator to be confirmed
– Unpacking the Parenting in Wales: Guidance on engagement and support – facilitator to be confirmed

Wales Neglect Project – Evidence based decisions in neglect cases – Examining the findings of the project’s evaluation report which indicates that it is useful as a tool for early intervention as well as to help social workers with evidence for decisions making – facilitator to be confirmed
 

Who should attend?

Professionals providing family and parenting support and those with a policy lead or interest in family and parenting support.

Children in Wales hopes the event will increase delegates’ understanding and give them the opportunity to consider their own policy and practice alongside sharing experiences and best practice. 

COST: Members: £70                  Non-members: £90

If you would like more information or a WORD version of the booking form, please contact bookings@childreninwales.org.uk

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