Training Spotlight: Charity’s digital courses support family practitioners

OnePlusOne is a relationship support charity that uses evidence-based research to offer practical help to families and practitioners through digital interventions.

We provide interactive online training to all license holders across 70 local authorities in England and Wales. Small groups of practitioners are taken through our digital resources by one of our trainers. This allows practitioners to ask questions about the materials, receive feedback on suggested actions and gain insight into how to best share them with families.

We offer a package of digital courses aimed at reducing parental conflict. These were developed using evidence-based techniques for reducing stress and improving communication, paired with the latest knowledge on behaviour change.

Video-based sessions incorporate real life “stress points” into Behaviour Modelling Training. This method allows parents to see different communication skills in action, reflect on their own behaviour and practice new skills in their own homes.

Current courses cover the transition to parenthood, supporting separated parents, and how to cope with stress and improve communication. Online training sessions equip practitioners with the available materials.

There is an opportunity for practitioners to try out the resources themselves and discuss ideas around how to engage parents in specific interventions. Practitioners who take part in training receive access to downloadable materials to support the implementation of what they have learned.

To help authorities develop a sustainable approach to training, we also offer a “Train the Trainer” model. This provides practitioners with everything they need to deliver their own sessions in-house.

This is an effective way to continue momentum with the digital resources and there is often an increase in use after a practitioner has delivered training in their authority.

When bringing training to the families they work with, practitioners have full flexibility in how they employ these skills. They can choose to recommend the parents complete the training independently or alongside their practitioner depending on the level of need. A dedicated practitioner guide offers helpful questions and prompts that allows them to explore the parents’ understanding of the material and how they are practising their skills.

Our evaluation data shows that these digital interventions have a positive impact on improving relationship quality and communication between parents, regardless of whether the parents are together or separated. This improvement in healthy behaviours also improves the outcomes for their children’s lives.

Read CYP Now's Special Report on Digital Solutions in Children's Services here.

Verity Glasgow is chief executive of OnePlusOne.