Long Term Outcomes of a Parenting Support Project

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Vulnerable parents with and without a learning disability – long term outcomes for families involved in a parenting skills programme

• IRAS ID

  30845

• Contact name

  Dominic Jarrett

• Contact email

  dominic.jarrett@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

• Research summary

  Increasing numbers of people with learning disabilities are choosing to become parents. Contrary to prevalent misconceptions within services, research has shown that, with appropriate support, they can succeed in this role. Despite this, services to enable such success are still very much developing across the UK, and the evidence base with regard to outcomes for the children within these families has substantial gaps.

  Past research within NHS Ayrshire and Arran sought to support a group of parents with learning disabilities, and a group of parents who were vulnerable for other reasons, to become successful parents. The support provided was intensive, primarily homebased,
  and very much tailored to the learning styles of the individuals involved. However, the project was timelimited, and on its cessation, participants were referred on to the routine services available within their locality. This referral was supported by a final report from the project, which outlined recommendations for further support.

  The present study seeks to follow-up the participants within that study, in the interests of identifying to what extent the recommendations within the final report for each family were met; what aspects of the support it delivered were most successful in the long-term; what support people had from services regarding parenting during the intervening period; what supports the children in the family received; how the support received by the families changed as the children aged; and what the experience has been of those who were children at the time of the original project,over the
  intervening period. In doing so, it is hoped to inform the growing evidence base in relation to parents with learning disabilities, and the delivery of services to meet their needs.

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 1

• REC reference

  14/WS/0081

• Date of REC Opinion

  9 Jul 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion