The Barnardo’s Surrey Positive Parenting Service provides information and support for parent and carers of children and young people who have, or are awaiting, a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The service aims to increase understanding, skills and confidence in communication and behaviour management, while also providing an opportunity for parents and carers to meet with others in a supportive way.
The Barnardo’s Surrey Positive Parenting Service provides information and support for parent and carers of children and young people who have, or are awaiting, a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The service aims to increase understanding, skills and confidence in communication and behaviour management, while also providing an opportunity for parents and carers to meet with others in a supportive way.
Access
Referrals are received via a one-stop triage service or directly through a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) clinician. On receipt of a referral, service practitioners contact the parent within 5 days and offer a group within 10 days. The programme timetable is flexible, with groups run during school hours and evenings at multiple locations across the country, and changed every 3 months to meet need. This provides parents and carers with a choice of groups to attend, increasing access, while also reducing waiting lists and missed appointments.
The service works to signpost to other partners in the Mindsight Surrey CAMHS initiative via One Stop (Beacon UK): The National Autistic Society, Catch 22, Reflex, Kooth.com, Xenzone, Youth Support Service, Brain in hand, Heads Together, the Lifetrain Trust, Step by Step, Learning Space, The Eikon Charity and Relate.
Support for families and careers
There are two programmes for parents and carers: the Parent Factor Programme (8-week programme) is for parents and carers with children who have a diagnosis of ADHD, while the Nurturing Programme (8-weeks) is for those who are awaiting a diagnosis. Groups also provide an opportunity for parents and carers to receive peer support from those in a similar situation. The programme also aims to support parents and carers to improve their understanding of ADHD from their child’s perspective to keep a positive, child-centred approach, while also raising their own self-esteem to have a positive impact on family relationships and communication.
Outcome monitoring
Feedback from parents and carers is collated at the end of each course and case files are sampled by the service manager to monitor parents’ self -assessment. Outcomes measurements are collected regularly, with monthly reporting to commissioners on engagement figures, quality assurance processes, and parental experience and effectiveness
What makes this service an example of positive practice?
The team models positive consistent delivery and practice during the length of the session whilst acknowledging (and putting into the context of ADHD) concerns raised by parents. The team is empathetic towards the family concerns and emphasis is put onto raising parents’ emotional intelligence so that parents can model this to their children in order to raise the child’s self-esteem.
Barnardo’s work with all individuals regardless of background or current circumstances, to ensure children and young people’s needs are met and their voices are heard.
Further details
| Commissioning | Mindsight Surrey | ||||||||||
| Providers | Barnardo’s and Surrey and Borders NHS foundation trust | ||||||||||
| Workforce (whole-time equivalent) | 3.5 pastoral staff, 1 service manager and 1 administrator | ||||||||||
| Population | 1176549 (all ages), 230927 (under 16) (mid-year estimates for Surrey) | ||||||||||
| Age | Parents and carers of children and young people aged 6 to 18 | ||||||||||
| Caseload | The service is commissioned to work with 525 parents/carers with children and young people who are waiting for or in receipt of a diagnosis of ADHD. Offer 8 to 10 weekly sessions of support. | ||||||||||
| Prevention and resilience – universal and early intervention for at risk | |||||
| Access and advice – consultation lines, triage and signposting | |||||
| Early support and brief interventions | |||||
