It is increasingly recognised that the quality of parental relationships, specifically how parents communicate and relate to one another, is a primary influence on children’s mental health and long-term life chances.
Conflict between parents including those who are separated, living together or non-birth parents is a normal part of relationships. Not all conflict is damaging, but there is strong evidence suggesting that where conflict between parents is frequent, intense and poorly resolved this can harm children’s outcomes.
On this page you can download a guide to Working Restoratively with Parents Experiencing Relationship Distress, find out about free Understanding Parental Conflict e-learning and see other resources on this topic.
Working Restoratively with Parents Experiencing Relationship Distress
This document offers guidance to frontline practitioners on effective ways to work restoratively with parents experiencing relationship distress. Download it here.
Click – Relationships Matter
The charity One Plus One provides information, support, advice and guidance on relationships. They have a fantastic website called ‘Click’ focused on relationship support from experts and the community. It is full of useful free resources for parents and those working with them. They have sections on parenting together and apart which include topics such as ‘Raising a Baby after a Breakup’, ‘Becoming a Dad’ and a short online course on called ‘Getting it Right for Children’.
A video from the Early Intervention Foundation
Reducing parental conflict: why it matters to children and why it matters to services.
Request free e-learning licences
Face-to-face training is no longer available, however, colleagues who wish to access all module content via e-learning can continue to contact One Reading (onereading@brighterfuturesforchildren.org) to request free e-learning licences. Team leaders can also request blocks of licences to distribute among their team.
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#GettingOnBetter cards
Downloadable cards produced by Brighton and Hove City Council and OnePlusOne. Cards 1 to 6 are for couples, cards 7 and 8 are for separated parents. Professionals can contact Stephen.Woodward@brighton-hove.gov.uk for more information.
- Stages and changes of relationships
- Arguments are like fire
- Conflict styles
- The magic ratio
- Better communication
- Harmful and helpful arguments
- Child roles – separated parents
- Unhelpful behaviours – separated parents
Websites for further information and support
Relationships Matter is a new partnership between 15 Councils across Yorkshire and the Humber Region helping families who may be having relationship difficulties.- Building relationships for stronger families – animation from Westminster City Council, Kensington and Chelsea.
- Covid-19 advice and tips for healthy relationships from Relate.
- Advice on how to handle arguments from Relate.
- See it differently – from Good Things Foundation and OnePlusOne.
- Resources from OnePlusOne:
- For sector-related information and tips for professionals: OnePlusOne.org.uk
- For relationship support and to use their forums: ClickRelationships.org
- Facebook: ClickRelationshipsUK
- Twitter: OnePlusOne
- Social distancing and self-isolation advice from Young Minds (for young people and parents of teenagers).
- Covid-19 guidance for children and families from Cafcass (for those co-parenting and with child arrangement agreements in place).
- Coronavirus guidance on vulnerable children and young people from DfE and PHE.
- Advice for parents and families with a child in the care system from the Family Rights Group.
- Me, You and Baby Too course for new parents which could also be useful for current parents.
- Free online parenting course from UK Charity Family Links and hosted by Netmums.
