Every child is unique and therefore each family & parent/carer will have different support needs. At The Link we are able to tailor parent/carer support to meet both individual and family needs. This is done on a voluntary basis and can include:

• Regular communication between all staff including management team, teachers and therapy staff and parents/carers to ensure parents/carers are kept informed of their child's progress both academic and social/emotional progress.
• Parents/carers will be kept informed of any safeguarding concerns.
• Termly reviews of child's progress within therapy and feedback to be offered on child's engagement with therapy.
• Therapeutic support/counselling on offer to parents.
• Parenting advice and guidance – including the offer of parenting programmes and evidence-based interventions. Tools can be offered to support parents in managing challenging behaviours. This can be done on an individual basis or occasionally within a group setting.
• Support for parents to understand any diagnosis their child may have been given, if required.
• Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy principles are used to support and restore relationships between parent and child, if required.
• Video Interactive Guidance can be offered to parents/carers and children where there may be risk of relationship breakdown or attachment needs. • Information and advice provided to parents in relation to on-going support and how to access this, signposting and referrals.

“All staff treat us like a family.”

Experience shows that positive change is only effective when a holistic approach is taken - this means that everyone is working together. For children to make the best possible progress, we ask that all parents/carers engage in support when their child arrives at The Link. This support is delivered by the Therapy team. Parents/carers commit to a ‘parent pathway’ which involves them engaging in regular contact with the Therapy team who offer the opportunity to work through challenges that families may be experiencing out of school.

We offer non-judgmental support to develop a trusting relationship enabling parents/carers to open up about difficulties at home. By doing this, parents/carers will be empowered to make changes for the benefit of the child and the family. We offer a ‘change one thing’ plan once parents/carers feel able to enact this.

Examples of ‘change one thing’ areas include:

• Boundaries
• Routines
• Meal times
• Communication
• Approach
• Timings
• Gaming /devices and their usage