Crossing no man's land: a specialist support service for parents with learning disabilties

This paper discusses the key role played by a specialist Parents with
Learning Disabilities team in supporting parents with learning disabilities
who are involved with child protection services. This team is
recognized as working through three levels of relationships to enable
parents to engage firstly with this service and then with services
concerned with the welfare of their children. The team also promotes
positive multi-agency relationships. The service is praised, by parents,
for its respectful, trusting yet honest and challenging relationships
and was also respected and trusted by child protection workers, who
are sure of the team’s commitment to the welfare of the children and
who see them as central to the support that is provided to parents
with learning disabilities. Parents who have previously had children
removed are engaged with children’s services and being supported to
parent by this service which is living out the principles of positive
support for this group of parents discussed in the Good Practice
Guidance on Working with Parents with Learning Disabilities
(Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills) and
Finding the Right Support (2006).