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Book Now – Group Supervision Training coming up

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Group supervision training sessions are a great opportunity for you to meet with your colleagues, reflect on your experiences of running Parents Plus groups thus far, and access support to improve your practice.

The goals of the workshops are to:

  • Support facilitators to get PP groups up and running in their services
  • Support programme delivery
  • Consult on specific challenges/group facilitation skills
  • Provide information on the Parents Plus Accreditation process

Become a Parents Plus Champion Facilitator in 2019

In order to recognise the many facilitators and agencies who continue to deliver the Parent Plus programmes in a sustained quality way, Parents Plus are identifying a number of ‘champion’ facilitators, who will be eligible for extra support and supervision, as well as reduced cost training and programme materials.

Details about how to apply to become a Champion Facilitator are below.

Benefits of becoming a Parents Plus Champion

  • Receive extra support and supervision from Parents Plus Trainers to deliver your services to families.
  • Access to lower cost programme booklets, supervision and additional training.
  • Be eligible to apply for a discount on Parents Plus training for colleagues in your agency (who are going to co-facilitate groups).
  • Be recognised as delivering a quality service in your community.
  • Receive a special certificate from Parents Plus to recognise your champion status for the year you receive it.

Discounts for Parents Plus Champions

  • 1 free supervision session annually
  • 25 % discount on Parent booklets
  • 25% discount on additional Parents Plus training
  • 25% discount on facilitator training for colleagues in your agency who can act as co-facilitators
  • Discounts are available for the duration of champion status (e.g. 1/1/2019 – 31/12/2019)
  • Parents Plus reserve the right to vary discount rates at any point.

Criteria for becoming a Parents Plus champion

To become a champion facilitator you need to be:

  • Delivering one of the Parents Plus programmes at least two times a year.
  • Following the Parents Plus Quality Protocol as you deliver the programmes.
  • Be an accredited facilitator or be working towards accreditation.
  • Have run a Parents Plus programme at least twice in the preceding 18 months and have plans to run one twice in the next 18 months.
  • Be prepared to return to Parents Plus audit data on groups run (e.g. anonymised parent course review forms at the end of each group).
  • Have the full support of management in your agency re: becoming a Parents Plus Champion Facilitator.
  • Be prepared for you and your agency to be identified as a Parents Plus Champion on the Parents Plus website and within our social media communications.

Other Information

  • Parents Plus invite joint applications from co-facilitators in an agency delivering groups together, though individual applications will be considered also.
  • Champion status is awarded on a yearly basis and it can be renewed annually, once the facilitator(s) continues to meet the criteria above.
  • You are eligible to apply if you are working within an agency that has open referral for families (e.g. advertised to the public) and within specialist agencies with internal referral only (e.g. CAMHS and disability settings).

Application Process

To apply to become a Champion Facilitator 2019 please complete the short application form HERE and email it to siobhan@parentsplus.ie

The closing date for applications for the coming year is Thursday, 30th January 2019.

 

 

Free Supervision Offer for Trained Facilitators in the Parents Plus Programmes

We are always delighted to keep in touch with facilitators and hear about how the groups are going, the things that are working well and any of the challenges. We would like to support you in continuing to run good quality groups for parents and young people attending your service. Over the next period (until the end of Feb. 2019), we are offering free Supervision Sessions by phone or Skype/Facetime/Zoom.

These supervision sessions are available to individual facilitators, co-facilitating pairs or small groups of practitioners delivering the PP programmes within a service. You may be running or have recently run a group, or you and your colleagues may be aiming to get Parents Plus off the ground again in your service, or you may be a newly trained facilitator wanting support in getting started.

The PP Supervision Session focuses on helping practitioners:

  • Develop skills in effective programme delivery
  • Recruit participants for your groups and keep them coming each week
  • Develop a reflective practice approach
  • Improve group facilitation skills
  • Deal well with challenges
  • Use participant feedback effectively
  • Problem-solve any issues arising from the groups

To apply to avail of one of these free Supervision Sessions please email Eileen Brosnan at eileen@parentsplus.ie asap with the below details.

If you are applying on behalf of yourself and a co-facilitator or small group in your agency please include all names. We will then get in touch to arrange a suitable time-slot for you. These slots are limited, so we would encourage you to get in touch soon to secure a session.

Name:
Contact number:
Email:
Agency/service:
Which PP programmes are you trained in?

How many groups have you run so far since you were trained?

Are you currently running a programme? Give details of programme, start and finish dates, numbers etc.

What is your main goal for the Supervision Session?

Parents Plus in School Settings – 27/09/2018

Running Parents Plus in Schools – Advanced Practice Workshop- Thursday 27th September, 9:00am-1:30pm, Lucan Spa Hotel Co Dublin

The Parents Plus and Working Things Out are evidence based programmes that are successfully delivered in primary and secondary school as a means of:

  • Supporting children’s mental healthWTO covers
  • Engaging parents and families
  • Promoting positive communication in families
  • Resolving emotional and behavioural problems

 

To support primary and secondary schools running the programmes we are hosting an advanced practice workshop which will cover:

  • Key note presentation from Dr John Sharry on “Strengths based principles for engaging families in schools”.
  • A series of practice presentations from facilitators running the programmes in schools on topics such as supporting children with mental health problems such as anxiety.
  • Break-out discussion groups on a range of specific topics such as recruiting participants in schools, keeping them attending, group facilitation skills etc.
  • Networking opportunities to meet other school staff delivering parenting and mental health programmes.

If you are interested in presenting or providing a short input on your practice (10 mins) or helping to run a break out group, please email sinead@parentsplus.ie.

PPAP coversThis workshop is designed for
1) trained Parents Plus facilitators who are looking to develop their practice and 2) professionals working in school settings, new to Parents Plus who are considering Parents Plus training in the future. See here for details of full Parents Plus training.

Cost of attendance is €50 euro, or free for practitioners who present.

Registration

 

Parents Plus Programme Cover Photos

Parents Plus is an Irish charity that develops practical, evidence-based parenting and mental health programmes. We train professionals working with children and families to deliver the programmes in communities and clinical settings. Our programmes support families to communicate effectively, build satisfying relationships and overcome emotional and behavioural problems.

Our Programmes: Parents Plus have developed five flagship programmes in partnership with parents and children living in Ireland and includes their specific experiences. Our programmes combine a social learning model with a solution-focused preventative framework that encourages and empowers parents and children to ‘take charge’ and make positive changes in their lives.

Our programmes comprise of:

  • The Early Years Programme for parents of children aged 1 to 6.
  • The Children’s Programme for parents of children aged 6 to 11.
  • The Adolescents Programme for parents of adolescents aged 11 to 16.
  • The Working Things Out Programme targeted at adolescents aged 11-16.
  • Parenting when Separated Programme targeted at parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation and divorce.

Parents Plus in Disability Settings – 11/06/2018

Workshop – Monday 11th June 9:00am-1:30pm, Lucan Spa Hotel Co Dublin

Providing parenting groups is an important part of service delivery within disability settings.  Such groups can provide parents with group support as well as access to specialist interventions. This advanced practice workshop brings together Parents Plus Facilitators working in disability settings both within early intervention (0-6) and school age teams ( 6-18) under progressing disability.

Workshop content includesPPEY Umbrella

  • Parents Plus guidelines on running groups in disability services
  • Presentations from practitoners working in disability
  • Launch of Parents Plus Disability research project
  • Networking opportunities to meet other facilitators

If you are interested in presenting or providing a short input on your practice (5-10 mins) or helping to run a break out group, please email sinead@parentsplus.ie.

This workshop is designed for
1) trained Parents Plus facilitators who are looking to develop their practice and 2) professionals working in disability settings who are considering Parents Plus training in the future. See here for details of full Parents Plus training.

Cost of attendance is €50 euro, or free for practitioners who present or assist above or practitioners who agree to participate in the Parents Plus Disability Research Project.

Registration

Parents Plus Programme Cover Photos

Parents Plus is an Irish charity that develops practical, evidence-based parenting and mental health programmes. We train professionals working with children and families to deliver the programmes in communities and clinical settings. Our programmes support families to communicate effectively, build satisfying relationships and overcome emotional and behavioural problems.

Our Programmes: Parents Plus have developed five flagship programmes in partnership with parents and children living in Ireland and includes their specific experiences. Our programmes combine a social learning model with a solution-focused preventative framework that encourages and empowers parents and children to ‘take charge’ and make positive changes in their lives.

Our programmes comprise of:

  • The Early Years Programme for parents of children aged 1 to 6.
  • The Children’s Programme for parents of children aged 6 to 11.
  • The Adolescents Programme for parents of adolescents aged 11 to 16.
  • The Working Things Out Programme targeted at adolescents aged 11-16.
  • Parenting when Separated Programme targeted at parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation and divorce.

Parents Plus Accredited Facilitators Advanced Practice Workshop

Parents Plus are inviting PP Accredited Facilitators to a FREE Advanced Practice Workshop in 2018 to cater specifically for more experienced facilitators.

One of the goals of Parents Plus is to have more communication and engagement with accredited facilitators so that their ideas and feedback can help shape the work of Parents Plus.

  • When is the workshop: Wednesday, 17th January 2018 from 9.30am until 1.30pm
  • Location: The Pillar Room, the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7
  • Cost: Free to attend for PP Accredited Facilitators

To book a place on this Advanced Practice Workshop, book online below under additional training.

If you’ve any other queries about this workshop, please email eileen@parentsplus.ie 

Order Parent Booklets

Once you have added all your purchases to the basket please proceed to the checkout.
Alternatively, you can checkout at any time using the basket top right of the screen.

Book now – Group Supervision Training Coming Up

 

Order Parent Booklets

Once you have added all your purchases to the basket please proceed to the checkout.
Alternatively, you can checkout at any time using the basket top right of the screen.

 

Group supervision training sessions are a great opportunity for you to meet with your colleagues, reflect on your experiences of running Parents Plus groups thus far, and access support to improve your practice.

The goals of the workshops are to:

  • Support facilitators to get PP groups up and running in their services
  • Support programme delivery
  • Consult on specific challenges/group facilitation skills
  • Provide information on the Parents Plus Accreditation process

Promoting your Parents Plus Programmes

A key challenge in running a Parents Plus Programme is getting enough parents to attend. You may have an excellent group ready to run, but your parents simply don’t know about it. Below are some tips for trained facilitators on how to spread the word about the Parents Plus Programmes in your service and getting the parents knocking on the door to attend.

You will also find lots of promotional resources in the Member’s Area of the website. You must be logged in to access these extra resources. You can login here or if you haven’t already, you can register here for this private Member’s Area.

Prepare your Message

Prepare your key message and plan how you will spread it in an easy, cost effective way.

  • Ensure any publicity for your programme includes essential details, e.g. venue, date, times and contacts, topics covered and sign up criteria.
  • Always include a clear point of contact for parent’s queries and sign ups.
  • Make a flier which is printable and which is also legible in the various digital platforms (available to download from the Member’s Section on the website here once you are logged in).
  • Put together different versions of text about your programme which can be circulated through emails, cover letters, texts, social media. Include a link or attachment to a poster or further information. Make sure the message is consistent and has a clear call to action.
  • Use free sites like www.canva.com to create images for social media, posters, fliers etc. There are some images, fliers and posters already available to share and download in the Parents Plus Member’s Area here.

Communication Tips

Advertise early. Spread the word well in advance of the dates as this gives busy parents time to plan and make arrangements to attend.

Have a clear call to action. Any communication about your Parents Plus Programme should include your attendance criteria (e.g. age of their children, where they live), what commitment is involved (e.g. time and cost), course topics and contact details for queries.

Link with other community groups and agencies. Ask them to share and circulate your information further and to print and display your posters.

Link with Parents Plus. Parents Plus has established a quality brand that many parents, referrers and agencies are familiar with and seek access to. Ensure Parents Plus is in the title of all advertising and include the logo and website address so referrers and potential attendees can learn more. Further information is in the Parents Plus Advertising Guidelines in the licensing agreement which you can view here.

Engage through social media

  • Put details of your event on your website
  • Add as an event on Facebook
  • Tag other local businesses, community groups in your posts and tweets
  • Use your local hashtags
  • Include images and links in your posts
  • Share information with us and we can share on the Parents Plus social media channels. Email siobhan@parentsplus.ie with details.

Make attending attractive!

Further information is available in the ‘Recruiting Parents’ section in your Parents Plus manual and is replicated in a checklist document below or which is available for download  here.

Promoting Parents Plus Programmes – CHECKLIST 

Checklist of Actions which can be completed to help promote your groups to parents.

People who use your services
  • Have a clear point of contact for parent queries
  • Invite previous Parents Plus graduates to promote future courses (by writing an endorsement for fliers, speaking at an information evening)
  • Hold an Information meeting to share the course ideas and explain what is involved.
  • Use ten minutes of another client meeting (e.g. 10 min morning meeting in school) to show introduction video/slideshow about Parents Plus programmes.
  • Send reminder texts with course details, sign up deadlines etc, (attach image of poster)
Agency and venue
  • Display information on noticeboards/doors of your agency. Place information on a sandwich board or easel outside the building.
  • Have fliers available at reception
  • Include information in your agency newsletters and mailshots
  • Make sure all your agency colleagues (whether they are the point of contact for interested parents or potential referral agents) know the details of your programme- when and where it is on, who it is suitable for and contact details
  • Display information at your course venue (if it is different from your own agency base)
  • Use your agency’s website and social media platforms to promote your group
Other agencies and potential referrers
  • Ensure potential referral agents have the information they need to give to parents, at least the contact name and phone number
  • Family Doctors/Schools – distribute fliers and poster with a cover letter, including clear information on who the group is open to
Wider community contacts
  • School/preschool newsletters and texts
  • Local businesses e.g. preschools, creches, chemists,
  • Supermarket noticeboards/set up an information stand at busy time
  • Library noticeboards
  • Centres where parents visit GAA, other class/music venues
  • Parent and toddler groups/cuidiu/men’s groups
  • Local radio announcements and shows
  • Local newspaper listings
  • Church/parish newsletters and notices
  • Councils and local representative newsletters and social media platforms
  • Solicitors
Parents Plus can help

Parents Plus Official Launch and Information Seminar March 2017

It was great to see so many new and old faces at the Parents Plus Official Launch and Information Seminar on Thursday, 9th March 2017 in the Ashling Hotel in Dublin.

This launch marked the official development of our updated programme materials (the manuals and parent booklets). And the information seminar gave practitioners and managers the opportunity to find out more about the five Parents Plus Programmes and how they might work in different agencies.

  • To view the launch presentation from this event, please click here.
  • To view the information seminar presentation from this event, please click here.

Also, thanks again to our funders the 3Ts Charity (in particular Joe McAvin, Lise Alford and Claire O’Brien who attended the event) and also to Pobal for their support.

To view some photographs from this event, please visit our Facebook page.