Councils are now able to apply for funding from a new cash post of almost £4 million to train frontline staff who regularly come into contact with families facing conflict so they can intervene at the right time to reduce friction between parents and help shield their children.
The Department for Work and Pensions' Reducing Parental Conflict programme is already working with local family services, including health and social care, the courts and emergency services such as the police, to help them spot parental conflict, provide initial support and refer parents to further interventions such as therapy for a constructive resolution.
With this new round of funding, the DWP will be able to take the programme to the next level, giving more children the opportunity to thrive in happier homes. As someone with a background in social justice and education policy myself, I know just how important a stable family life is for a child's life chances, so I am truly delighted to see the Government provide this additional funding.
And I am pleased to report that research has already shown the programme’s effectiveness in:
- Helping parents to take responsibility for their actions and understand the impact on their families
- Improving communication between a couple and within the family as a whole
- Skills training focused on emotional coping strategies, both to manage triggers to substance use and to improve parenting practices and conflict management
As ever, if you have any questions or need my help, please email me at [email protected] or leave me a message on 020 7219 5972.
