Family Hub Derby has partnered with Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Solihull Approach to offer free access to online courses for those with a Derby postcode.
The courses cover topics on children’s physical and mental health to help improve relationships with children, from before they are born to early adulthood. Concerns that impact children with additional needs – including learning disabilities and autism – are also covered in many of the courses, as well as in the ‘understanding your child with additional needs’ course.
The Solihull Approach supports mental health and wellbeing in parents, children, schools, older adults and high stress workplaces through evidence-based training, online courses and resources. These courses include the same content as a face-to-face meeting between parent and health visitor.
They are available in a wide range of languages, including voiceovers in English and Urdu for those who are visually and audibly impaired. The purpose of these virtual courses is to be accessed at any time and any place, with little guidance.
The courses are funded by Derby Family Hub as part of the Derby Family Hub Start for Life offer, which will also offer face-to-face workshops to support the online courses.
Parents in other areas of the country have shared their feedback on the courses:
A very easy to understand way of putting things and no longer will I fight against things that I cannot change due to biology.
This is desperately needed and such a quality product for parents who are navigating an often lonely and frightening path with a child with disabilities. So many of our parenting referrals are from parents who are struggling with children who are neurodiverse and we, too, have had some excellent feedback from parents about the course.
Well presented information, with enough biology and explanation to fully understand the changes that are taking place – also helpful suggestions of how to accommodate the teen years.
Danielle Nicholson, Deputy Area Service Manager for children aged 0-19 at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said:
This partnership will enable parents with children accessing our services to better understand their child’s feelings when navigating life as a family.
The courses are expertly designed for parents to understand the changes in their child’s development and how to support them. The Trust are committed to supporting all families through an accessible resource. We are confident that information provided online will help our children and their families.
These courses are developed by psychologists at the Solihull Approach in partnership with health experts, schools and psychotherapists as well as parents. Some courses include:
- Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
- Understanding your baby
- Understanding your child with additional needs
- Understanding your preterm or sick baby now your home
- Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager
- Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
- Understanding your teenager’s brain
- Understanding your feelings – for teenagers only
You can access a full list of these courses free of charge online if you have a Derby postcode – simply create an account to gain access – and once you sign up you will have unlimited access to these courses and all future ones to be added. You can find out more on the city council's website. Further details, including how to register and access the courses, are also available at the In Our Place website. Please use the access code: MARKEATON when signing up.