The parenting practitioner workforce is made up of a wide range of practitioners in frontline and managerial roles across adult and children's services.

You can help us map the workforce by contributing to our functional map detailed in the tab below.

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) and the parenting academy are working on an up-to-date functional map for the Work with Parents workforce. We intend for this functional map to include data from across the UK. Parenting UK are collaborating with us to help engage organisations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. 

A draft functional map has been developed, informed by an expert reference group made up of employers, practitioners and stakeholders. The consultation period on this first draft has now closed; the expert reference group is now reviewing the map in light of the comments received whereupon a further draft will be produced. A second consultation period is now open until 15 March 2010. Upon consideration of the further comments received, a final draft will be created, for comment/approval by the expert reference group.

The functional map will be used as the basis for the future revisions of standards and qualifications to support the Work with Parents workforce.

What is a functional map?
A functional map is a visual representation of the key purpose of a given workforce and the functions needed to achieve that purpose.

It provides an underpinning framework on which national occupational standards are based. Collectively the functional map and the national occupational standards lead to a shared understanding about what units of assessment the workforce needs for career choices, progression and mobility. They also enable employers in the sector to support organisational development and performance management systems which ultimately improve outcomes in the Work with Parents sector.

Why is a functional map needed?
The Work with Parents workforce has changed significantly over the last few years and it is important that future development of standards and qualifications reflect these changes.

A functional map enables all those working in and supporting roles in the Work with Parents sector to see how their work fits together and contributes to the best possible outcomes for those being supported through the Work with Parents workforce.

Who will use the functional map?
The functional map will be of use for employers and stakeholders in the Work with Parents sector.

How can I get involved?
Should you wish to comment on the second draft of this functional map, please see the questionnaire. We would welcome your comments and ask for them to be returned to Tabitha Bushill by 15 March 2010.

Who is part of the parenting workforce?

The parenting workforce is large and complex, consisting of people working in many different jobs, with diverse levels of responsibility and qualifications ranging, from para professionals without formal qualifications, to graduate level professionals. In broad terms, the parenting workforce can be considered across the following intersecting categories:

• the children's workforce and the adult workforce
• statutory and voluntary services (which may be privately or publicly funded and commissioned)
• universally accessible services, to services targeted across a range of levels.

Across these intersecting categories it is important to recognise that a service which supports parents may be defined as:

• a service for parents and carers
• a service for adults
• a service for children
• a service for families.

Many parenting practitioners work in familiar roles - as health visitors, clinical psychologists, family therapists, childcare providers, social workers, nurses, counsellors and housing workers.

Others are in relatively new roles dedicated to parenting support, such as parent support advisers, parenting experts, parenting group leader/facilitators, family support workers and parenting workers.

Parenting practitioners may also work with parents on other issues, such as physical and mental health, disability, substance abuse, family conflict, housing or employment. Although not their prime responsibility, offering support and advice on parenting may be one aspect of their job.

What is work with parents?

At present, there is not an agreed definition of work with parents and much of the work that practitioners do with parents may not necessarily be described as such.

Some definitions of work with parents are:

• work that specifically supports the parent's relationship and management of their child
• work with parents to enable parents to be more effective in their parenting
• "treatment" for a range of child conduct and attention problems
• work that develops close attunement between parents and infants
• work which equips parents to manage behaviour more effectively
• work which enhances parents confidence
• work which improves parent-child interactions.

Other terms that are often used interchangeably (and in combination) but often mean different things include 'parenting support', 'family support', 'parent education', and 'parent training'.

There are a large number of universal, targeted and specialist support services planned and commissioned, which are provided in different ways by a variety of agencies and partnerships throughout the UK.