One minute guide: Relationship Matters - reducing parental conflict

What do we mean by parental conflict

Leeds has developed a definition of parental conflict through consultation with a number of partner agencies, parents and children and young people:

In Leeds our behaviour is guided by relational practice and we are committed to helping families make choices and develop their own solutions to the challenges they face. This includes helping parents where there may be parental conflict.

Evidence shows that frequent, intense and poorly resolved parental conflict can have a negative impact on children's mental health and long term life-chances. In response to this, local authorities across Yorkshire and Humberside have jointly commissioned a website, awareness raising campaign and workforce development programme called 'Relationship Matters'.

Determining parental conflict or domestic abuse

Often it is clearer to identify where domestic abuse (or violence) is a concern. However, sometimes it can be more challenging to differentiate between parental conflict and domestic abuse.

Leeds has adopted the Stefanou Foundation Intimate Relationship Spectrum external link to assist practitioners in determining whether families are experiencing parental conflict or domestic abuse. The spectrum includes the following relationship descriptions:

• respectful, equal, cooperative, happy
• mostly respectful, equal, cooperative but experiencing difficulties
• conflictual, non-communicative, non-violent
• situational couple conflict, abuse, violence both ways
• controlling, abusive / behaviour
• coercive control and physical harm, fear of violence / death

Good practice would always support practitioners having a conversation with families to help them determine if they are experiencing parental conflict. If practitioners are in any doubt they should refer to their agency's domestic abuse policy, or seek guidance from their line manager or from their local Early Help Hub Domestic Abuse Worker.

What are we doing in Leeds

We understand that conflict is an everyday part of life. Our aim is to ensure that conflict is constructively resolved thereby modelling appropriate relationships where any differences are agreed amicably between adults.

Leeds is working with thirteen other Local Authorities within Yorkshire and Humberside to jointly commission a regional website and digital campaign for practitioners and members of the public. The website can be accessed by visiting Relationship Matters external link.

Who should think about parental conflict? And what training is available

All practitioners working with families should think about parental conflict. This involves all the organisations, agencies and services working with adults, those working with children and young people, and those who work with families. This includes but is not limited to health services, the police, the third sector and local authority services.

A multi-agency and multi-disciplinary training programme is available for practitioners and managers working with children and families and includes the following:

Module 1 (e-learning)

Understanding Parental Conflict and its impact on Child Outcomes:
How can I use the evidence base to support parent relationships?

Module 2

Recognising and Supporting Parents in Parental Conflict:
Applying knowledge, skills and techniques

Module 3

Working with Parents in Conflict:
How do I support, refer or intervene?

Module 4

Where practitioners are working with parents who have said they want to talk to someone about their relationship, the worker can support them to contact one of the early help hubs.

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