Plaid Cymru AM Lindsay Whittle visited Caerphilly Parenting Support Programme last week to find out more about the support available for parents in the community.
The programme, which is run by Action for Children-Gweithredu dros Blant, is based behind Elim Community Church on Waterloo Terrace, Pontlottyn, and helps support local parents through a range of training courses and one-to-one advice. This enables parents in and around Caerphilly County Borough to cope with the pressures of modern family life and better understand their child’s needs, as well as the needs of other family members.
During his visit, Mr Whittle met with programme workers and local parents that have benefited from the programme, including one couple, Jonathan Rabaiotti and Louise Owen.
Describing how the programme helped them, Jonathan said: “When we joined the programme, we were going through a difficult period with our children’s’ behaviour. We didn’t think that going to a group like this would work and the thought of talking about issues like parenting in front of others was a little intimidating, but it’s been a huge help.
Louise added: “Even after the first half an hour at the group we felt much more relaxed and it was really encouraging to speak to other parents that were in the same situation as us. Since completing the course, we’ve become a much happier family and our confidence as parents has really grown. Even the school has noticed the positive change in our children’s behaviour!”
Of the 245 of families that have taken part in the programme since its launch in 2011, all (100%) parents have reported they now feel more in control and have improved their ability to stay calm, set limits and show their children affection. In addition, nine in ten (91%) parents also said they feel more able to have fun with their child following the support they received.
Speaking of his visit, Mr Whittle said: “It was fantastic to come and see what work is being done on a local level to help support parents in Caerphilly. Parenting is one of the most difficult roles a person will ever have to face, and it is through programmes like this that parents are able to get early help and support to understand and address their own child’s needs effectively.”
Caerphilly Parenting Support Programme aims to help families become closer and improve parenting skills in order to reduce the likelihood of child neglect. This neglect, which is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs, can include emotional unresponsiveness as well as failure to provide adequate food, shelter or clothing.
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill, which is currently being considered by the National Assembly for Wales, could transform the way social services are delivered with a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention.
Jill Lubienski, Action for Children-Gweithredu dros Blant practitioner at the Caerphilly Parenting Support Programme, said: “Through our programme we work hard to help parents in Caerphilly as early as possible to better understand and respond to the needs of their children.
“When a family bond is stronger, child neglect is much less likely. We have found that parenting programmes and outreach on a local level are particularly effective methods of intervention to improve these bonds and prevent neglect.”
The Caerphilly Parenting Support Programme is funded by Caerphilly Families First and Flying Start. It runs a number of groups for parents including Family Links, a ten-week workshop with for parents with pre-teens; Triple P, a group demonstrating negotiation techniques for parents with teenagers; and Family Lives, a modular workshop that is available to all ages. The programme also offers individual support at home to families who can’t attend group sessions.