Published on: June 28, 2023
Beyond Behaviours is a new parent and carer group designed by supervising practitioners and education mental health practitioners within the Compass Changing Lives team, to understand the behaviours of their child and young people and provide mental health strategies to help support them.
A child’s difficulties can often present themselves at home rather than showing any signs in school. Beyond Behaviours is aimed mainly at primary school ages and some secondary ages and addresses possible reasons for the child’s behaviours and provides strategies to support young people to reduce challenging behaviours, regulate their emotions and build confidence.
Chantelle Ross, Service Manager for Compass Changing Lives said: “Beyond Behaviours is a brilliant opportunity for parents to share experiences and gain new insight into their child and ways they may communicate. The sessions offer a safe, non-judgemental space for parents to share their experiences with other parents, allowing for essential connections whilst being supported by experienced practitioners.”
The idea for the group came about as part of feedback received from the link meetings that the teams attend to identify trends and support needs within schools across Derby and Derbyshire. A number of primary schools in the Derbyshire locality asked for help for parents struggling with the behaviours of their child.
The first group was run online over the last few weeks across the different locality teams in Compass Changing Lives.
Rachel Zilate, Team Leader for Compass Changing Lives said: “The groups are delivered by mental health practitioners over six, one hour sessions, and delivered in up to groups of ten parents either face to face or online.
“We are currently running 4 groups across our service, two online and two face to face. It is a safe space to share difficulties and problem solve together.”
One parent said: “It made me feel like I wasn’t the only parent trying to get their child to school without a battle!”
Chantelle went on to say: “The sessions are proving very popular both online and face to face and increase the Changing Lives parental offer. We are looking forward to expanding the parental provision across the service.”
Beyond behaviours , Derby and Derbyshire Mental Health Support , mental health , MHSTs , Schools