Parenting support
The Solihull Approach
The Solihull Approach is about emotional health and wellbeing support for all children, parents, carers and grandparents through many free online courses and resources.
Relationships shape who we are. They help our brains to learn all sorts of things. Relationships are especially important in our early years as our brains, and the building blocks for our emotional health, are shaped by everything we absorb from our environment and develop most rapidly in the first two years of life and throughout childhood, accelerating again in adolescence.
The Solihull Approach has a website called 'inourplace' where you can get parenting advice from pregnancy until your child is 19 years old. You can get guidance on your child’s physical and mental health to help improve relationships from before they are born to early adulthood.
This service is for Derby city families and professionals only. The courses and website can be translated into the parents’ choice of language. Derby’s Family Hubs will also offer some face-to-face workshops.
More information, including how to register and access the online courses and resources can be found on the inourplace/Derby website. Use the access code: MARKEATON to sign up for free.
Watch this video to find about the Solihull Approach and its training in emotional health and wellbeing for children.
Positive Parenting Relationships
Becoming parents can change your relationship. Tiredness and stress associated with parenthood can lead to you and your partner misunderstanding each other. Stress and tension can lead to arguments with your partner, ex-partner or co-parent which can impact on your children.
Provided by OnePlusOne, these four free online courses can help you improve communication skills and manage conflict better. You can do these alone in your own time and usually each course takes about an hour to complete.
- Me, You and Baby Too – designed to help new and expectant parents cope with the changes that could happen in their relationship when they become parents and learn how to cope with stress and conflict constructively.
- Arguing Better – designed to raise awareness of the impact parental conflict can have on children and help parents develop better ways of managing stress and arguments together.
- Getting it Right for Children – designed to support separated parents, helping them to avoid the harmful situation of their children getting caught up in the middle of their conflict.
- Debt and Relationships – exploring the topic of debt and how to discuss so you can work on solutions.
How to access the courses
Visit OnePlusOne’s online relationship support for parents, select 'Central England', then select 'Derby' and create an account with your name, email and set your password. You can then access the courses you wish to do.
The information is private and confidential and won't be shared with Derby City Council.
If you feel you need any support to access the resources, please get in touch with a health, education, early help or social care professional. Alternatively, contact any of the Family Hub's or Children’s Centres.
Separating better
OnePlusOne has developed a mobile app called 'Seperating better' to support separating parents in creating a positive environment for co-parenting. The app offers expert guidance and practical solutions for families navigating separation. It's designed for parents to use independently to get practical and emotional support whenever they need it.
Couples therapy
If you feel you and your partner need therapeutic intervention, these services in Derby offer couples therapy. You will both need to complete a self-referral.
More parenting support
There are a range of other support services to support what you can do differently to have a positive impact for yourself and your children.
Relate Chatbots
Relate has created a suite of AI tools aimed at supporting partners or co-parents, separated co-parents, couples and carers to communicate more effectively, see things from the child’s perspective, and stop unnecessary arguments before they happen. Relate has created three AI tools that help you handle problems with your partner or co-parent. Share what you're going through and get answers, support, and advice to help you get through conflicts.
"Relate Chatbot" is an AI tool which offers provides expert co-parenting advice and practical support, along with recommendations of relevant articles, books, and online resources.
Chat to "In the middle" bot that helps parents understand how their child sees their relationship. With a small amount of information and zero judgement, you can learn how your child might be feeling.
Chat to "Sounding board" bot made for parents who are having disagreements. This tool helps you write emails, text messages, or get ready to talk with your partner or co-parent. It is here to help you keep your messages clear, polite, and positive.