This summary looks at the role of the practitioner when working with vulnerable families. “An important component of the worker’s role in these intensive family support programs is to assist parents to develop the basic practical skills required to meet their children’s safety needs. Increasing safety is one of several core outcomes”
They provide a table, which presents a generic practice guide which outlines the seven general steps involved in parent skills training, and are based on the seven step format of the Project SafeCareprogram:
- Describe the target behaviour or skill.
- Explain the rationale for teaching the skill
- Model each behaviour (demonstrate desired behaviours)
- Ask the parent to practice behaviour
- Provide positive feedback (point out positive aspects of performance)
- Provide constructive feedback (point out aspects of performance needing improvement)
- Review parent’s performance
They conclude:
“Teaching parents in at-risk families practical parenting skills to enhance safety, stability and security is an important and challenging task for workers in intensive home-based family support programs.
Evidence based programs that emphasise parent education and skills training based on behavioural and social learning principles have been shown to be effective. These involve giving explicit instructions, modelling, role-play rehearsal, providing constructive feedback, and setting homework exercises with clear performance criteria to assist parents develop the basic skills required to provide adequate safety and care. The steps outlined in this resource are based on the seven steps of the Project SafeCare Program (Filene et al, 2005), which can be applied to the teaching of any practical parenting, homecare or childcare skill.”