Parenting Programme

When Kim* started secondary school, her behaviour became increasingly difficult to manage. Escalating arguments, physical threats and truancy disrupted the peace at home, leaving her parents feeling overwhelmed. Reflecting on this challenging time, Kim’s mother shared, “Life was bad. Kim’s behaviour had put a strain on our relationship. My confidence in dealing with confrontational situations had also been affected.” Determined to make a change, the family enrolled in a Teen Triple P online parenting course offered by Sheffield City Council’s Family Intervention Service. 

Over eight weeks, Kim’s parents gained practical techniques to manage disruptive behaviour and reduce conflict. “The programme gave us strategies we didn’t have before,” her mother shared. These new approaches led to noticeable improvements. “Kim’s relationship with both of us has improved significantly. We can now talk about issues like support, security and safety without her becoming frustrated or agitated,” she added. 

Sheffield City Council’s Parenting Hub supports families like Kim’s, offering evidence-based parenting programmes such as Teen Triple P. “We are very precious about delivery in Sheffield and always aim to ensure every parent receives the same high-quality support, regardless of their circumstances,” explains Liz Hill, Assistant Service Manager. However, the provision of manualised parenting programmes doesn’t mean every family receives identical support. The team’s practitioners are given the flexibility to adapt their approach to meet the unique needs of different families while maintaining the fidelity of the Triple P model. This adaptability is especially valuable in serving Sheffield’s diverse, multicultural communities. 

One of Teen Triple P’s strengths, as Sarah Martin, Service Manager, highlights, is helping parents normalise teenage behaviour. “Our programmes help parents recognise that they are not on their own with some of their frustrations.” Kim’s parents echoed this sentiment: “It has been an opportunity to share other parents’ experiences and talk with parents that were having similar problems to us. The programme has been quite thought-provoking and helped us to realise typical behaviours that can be expected from teenagers.” 

Triple P also supports parents in addressing their own challenges. Liz notes, “If a parent is very low and struggling, then it’s hard to take on board what a practitioner might be saying to you in a session. So, it’s really important we look at the whole person and the whole family as well.” 

However, engaging parents isn’t always easy, particularly when mistrust of statutory services can create barriers. To address this, Sheffield’s team invests in pre-engagement, working closely with professionals in sectors like youth justice and social services to forge links with families. Sarah explains, “There can be a stigma around parenting programmes, as they can suggest a problem with the parents. We focus on building on their strengths and offering flexible solutions.” Triple P’s range of support—from seminars to intensive interventions—allows families to engage at their own pace and build relationships gradually. 

As demand for family support grows, evidence-based parenting programmes like Teen Triple P offer a lifeline to families feeling isolated. By providing tailored support, these programmes can help build supportive home environments, strengthen relationships and equip families to face the future together. 

*Name has been changed