The team help Children, Young People (aged 0-18) and their Families, who may benefit from additional support to overcome difficulties and make positive changes. We offer direct work with parents, children and young people as well as working closely with other services in order to get the best support to meet the identified needs.

The Vale Parenting Service also focus on promoting emotional wellbeing and supporting positive family relationships. The team deliver parenting programmes in a group setting, or offer a 1:1 bespoke intervention in line with what the family see as the focus of support required.

Parenting programmes include; Welcome to the World, GroBrain, Nurturing Programme, Handling Children’s Behaviour, Handling Teenage behaviour and Talking Teens.

The core aims of support are to increase confidence; develop resilience; improve emotional and social wellbeing and protection from further adverse childhood experiences.  The service will work in collaboration with other services and key partners to ensure young people reach their full potential.

Support offered is: Accident Prevention covering home safety, Health and Well-being SW, Healthy Relationship SW, Early Years support for Play, Interaction, Child Development and Early Language Development. Speech and Language support through the Speech and Language Therapist can also be provided (as long as the child is not under the Core service) as well as midwifery for the most vulnerable families.  

What services are offered?

Counselling or play therapy is available to children of primary school age who live in the Vale of Glamorgan, or who attend primary school within the Vale of Glamorgan. The service runs term time only.

·         Play Therapy is effective for helping children ‘play out’ what they might find difficult to verbalise. It is useful for children who might not have the words to express themselves. In play therapy, play is the primary way of communicating and speech secondary. Therefore, play therapy can be beneficial for young children aged 4+. Children can attend up to 10 sessions of play therapy, usually once a week for up to 50 minutes.

·         Counselling is a talking therapy, so would be beneficial for children who are able to communicate their thoughts and feelings through words. However, play and creative materials are also used therapeutically in the counselling room to help children communicate and express themselves non verbally when needed. Children can attend up to 8 sessions of counselling, usually once a week for up to 50 minutes.

Parent Carer Assessment – for parents who are caring for a child or young person with additional needs or disabilities.

Young Carer Assessment – for children and young people who have a caring responsibility for another individual within their household.