Pointers for Practice: Facilitating Family Engagement

When planning interventions, the following should be considered:

early engagement is vital to building a relationship of trust;
ensure interventions are delivered in a collaborative way, drawing parents in at an early stage to encourage them to help develop solutions to their own problems;
ensure support is delivered in a way parents can relate to. For example, use their own examples of parenting challenges in discussion and encourage them to share ideas and knowledge of what works for them;
be aware certain venues may be seen in a negative light and parents may be concerned at the possible social stigmas attached to attending them;
clear communication with parents is important so they understand what to expect from a service and have accurate information;
ensure information is accessible to parents with limited literacy, learning difficulties, or who may have English/Welsh as a second/additional language;
consider transport issues, for example, living in a rural location with limited access to public transport;
encourage personal ownership of parenting objectives, identifying “quick wins” to help increase confidence, and regularly reviewing progress.