There will be a mix of evidence based programme training and one-day good practice workshops for parenting practitioners available in all of the English regions. The exact make-up of the evidence based programme training will depend on the local training needs detailed by each local authority's parenting strategy. Training undertaken in any local area should be co-ordinated across all agencies to avoid duplication and to promote joined-up working. In addition there will be a limited offer of training in our Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) level 3 National Occupational Standards (NOS) core parenting skills pilot in each region.

How do I apply for evidence based programme training?

The Academy is inviting training proposals from all of the 150 local areas in England. Proposals must be co-ordinated by the Parenting Commissioner. Applications have opened at the end of October 2008, and we will be offering support for local commissioners and managers to understand the training offer and consider their response. We are not accepting applications from individuals.

How do I apply for one-day good practice workshop training?

The Academy will liaise with each government region and the location of the workshops will be decided at a regional level between Academy staff and the Government Office. Delegates will apply locally. We are not accepting applications from individuals.

How do I apply for QCF level 3 NOS core parenting skills training?

The Academy will liaise with each government region and the location of the training places will be decided at a regional level between Academy staff, local parenting commissioners and Government Office parenting leads. We are not accepting applications from individuals.

Is the training open to the voluntary sector?

We expect the voluntary sector to be included in local proposals, but we will also consider applications from voluntary organisations themselves where appropriate. We will only consider direct proposals from voluntary sector organisations who set out specific circumstances – they must demonstrate they deliver the priority services identified, but possibly across several local areas or with specific parent groups. We will expect them to identify how they will deliver improved services to parents and show how they support local parenting strategies.

As a Parenting Commissioner, how do I decide what training is needed?

Training proposals should be guided by local parenting strategies, and directly linked to local service delivery plans. The Academy's team of Regional Network Managers can help commissioners and managers choose the right programmes and interventions for their local needs. Training should primarily be for practitioners in priority services and named practitioners in priority groups.

What are the priority services and priority groups?

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) requires that training is primarily targeted at practitioners in priority roles and services. These are:

Priority roles

Parenting Experts
Respect parenting practitioners
Practitioners in Family Intervention Projects

Priority services

Extended schools
Sure Start Children's Centres
Youth Offending Teams
Other locally identified priority services

What evidence based parenting programmes will training be offered in, and why have these been chosen?

We anticipate that over the next two years the offer will include about 12 different programmes. Seven programme providers have been selected in October 2008 to provide training up to March 2009. These include Families and Schools Together (FAST); Incredible Years; Mellowing Parenting; Parenting Positively; Strengthening Families 10 - 14 (UK); Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities; and Triple P.

Each programme has been shown to be appropriate to one or more of the child age groups and child needs served by the priority services, and has demonstrated high satisfaction ratings by parents from a broad range of ethnic groups and socio-economic backgrounds. Each programme has a sound theoretical base which has been empirically tested and has been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective in improving child and parent outcomes, most by at least one randomised controlled trial.

The Academy is undertaking work to expand and develop the web-based Commissioning Toolkit to evaluate further programmes for quality and effectiveness. The Academy aims for all substantial programmes developed in England to be evaluated by September 2009. As these programmes are positively evaluated the Academy will be commissioning and promoting further training.

Can I access the training if I am based in Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland?

No. The Academy is only funded to offer training in England.

How are the training courses related to the National Occupational Standards?

The modular QCF level 3 NOS foundation training is entirely based on the National Occupational Standards, having been developed from units of those Standards. The evidence based programme training is being mapped to the national Occupational Standards and will enable practitioners to evidence key elements of the Standards as well as skills and competencies related to the specific parenting programme which it trains for. Workshops will also be linked to elements of the Standards.

Is training compulsory for certain job roles?

The Academy recommends that all practitioners working with parents have level 3 NOS training as a minimum.

Is the Academy endorsing the City and Guilds Work with Parents qualification?

The Academy is endorsing the revised QCF level 3 NOS Work with Parents (WWP) units as they are on the QCF. Qualifications completed as part of the QCF test and trial and therefore contain QCF level 3 NOS WWP units prior to the revision will be fully recognised. The Academy is working with LLUK to ensure that the revised menu of QCF units related to the NOS WWP will be available for all awarding bodies as soon as possible (eg CACHE, EDEXCEL, OCR). It may be that training providers choose to use C&G as the awarding body to enable accreditation of these units. The Academy does not recommend any one awarding body and would advise all training providers to be very careful in making sure that the assessment strategy and documentation which their chosen awarding body uses is user-friendly and will not disadvantage any practitioners.

I have completed the Training Parent Educators (TPE) programme. What status does this course have now?

TPE maps to a range of the NOS WWP and all TPE candidates have been supplied with a comprehensive listing of the NOS contained in TPE. Successful completion of TPE will have provided learners with evidence of a high proportion of the NOS. There is no new QCF qualification for training parent educators in QCF level 3 qualifications which the Academy is endorsing, and the graduates of TPE will have significantly progressed towards fulfilling the recommended Academy person specification for a trainer of parenting practitioners delivering training using a QCA awarding body.

Can the Academy recommend a specific parenting programme for my staff to be trained in?

Different programmes work for different parents in a range of situations, so the Academy does not make specific recommendations. We have a team of Regional Network Managers who can help commissioners and managers choose the right programmes and interventions for their local needs.

We are also expanding and developing the web-based Commissioning Toolkit to provide authoritative advice and information on a wide range of English parenting programmes. All the entries on the Toolkit will include a detailed evaluation of their quality and effectiveness, and the Academy aims for all substantial programmes developed or widely used in England to be evaluated by September 2009.

I have been working with parents for several years, but have no professional qualifications – what training is suitable for me?

The Academy believes that all practitioners working with parents should have a minimum of QCF level 3 training in working with parents. We are developing a programme of core parenting skills training for practitioners without a graduate qualification in a related helping profession to improve their skills and understanding of evidence based practice. This training will be available from training providers from autumn 2009.

I have professional qualifications (eg health, social care) – what training is suitable for me?

The Academy will be offering training in established evidence based parenting programmes to practitioners with a level six qualification (degree-level) or above. Support post-training will also be available.

I am interested in working with parents in the future – what training is suitable for me?

The Academy's training should lead as soon as possible to the actual delivery of programmes, and is therefore targeted to priority services and existing practitioners working in priority groups. As this area expands there are likely to be new job opportunities within local authority areas to deliver parenting support.

How can I keep informed about forthcoming training courses?

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