The Value of Parents Plus Training on Everyday Practice

The Value of Training Clinicians in Evidence-Based Parenting Programmes on every day practice with families.

Training clinicians in evidence-based parenting programmes (EBPPs), like those offered by Parents Plus, significantly enhances their everyday practice with families. It improves parent engagement, embeds solution-focused and strengths-based approaches, and delivers measurable outcomes for children and families. Moreover, it offers substantial value for money and long-term savings for public sector bodies.

1. Impact on Clinicians’ Practice

Training in EBPPs equips clinicians with structured, evidence-based tools that:

• Shift focus from problem-oriented to solution-focused engagement
• Encourage strengths-based engagement, building on family resilience
• Aligns with service delivery plans such as Family Centred Planning

2. Integration into Everyday Engagement

Clinicians trained in EBPPs report:

• Greater ability to tailor interventions to diverse family needs
• Enhanced ability to co-create goals with families, fostering ownership and motivation
• Improved communication and rapport with parents
• Improved Parent Engagement in services 

3. Building Trust and Collaboration

Evidence shows that EBPP trained clinicians:

• Use non-directive, non-judgmental approaches that reduce stigma
• Facilitate role-play and modelling to build parenting skills
• Offer more flexible formats of services (group, individual, digital) to meet family preferences

4. Solution-Focused and Strengths-Based Practice

Evidence shows that EBPP trained clinicians:

• Focus on change and possibilities, not deficits
• Build on existing family strengths and resources
• Use collaborative goal-setting and feedback loops

5. Policy Alignment

National models such as The Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s ‘Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services‘ and TUSLA’s ‘Parenting Support‘ emphasise EBPPs as key to early intervention and prevention, reducing demand on crisis services.

TUSLA’s Parenting Support Strategy 2022–2027 outlines a vision where:

• Parenting support is available when and where needed
• Services build on parents’ strengths and offer choice
• Supports are embedded in community networks and delivered collaboratively

First 5 Strategy: A Whole-of-Government Approach (2019 – 2028) sets out a cross-departmental plan to improve outcomes for babies, young children, and their families. Key priorities include: 

• Strong and supportive families and communities
• Optimum physical and mental health
• Expanded parenting support models
• Early intervention to tackle childhood adversity

Quality of parenting is the single most important determinant affecting children’s development, behaviour, mental health and long-term outcomes, as well as affecting wellbeing of parents, communities, and the next generation. Whether or not you ever deliver a Parents Plus programme to families in your service, the key concepts and approaches learned during training can be applied across your practice and in a wide range of interactions, benefitting both your own professional development and improving outcomes for families in so many more ways than you might expect.