THE BENEFITS of a programme which helps people make positive changes to their family lives were shared with Whitehall officials during a special visit last week.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme was thrown into the spotlight when Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education, Jonathan Slater, and Regional Schools Commissioner for South-East England and South London, Dominic Herrington visited Hastings.

The event gave parents and carers who have used the service the chance to share their experiences of participating in a local parenting programme and how it has had a positive impact on life outside the family.

Tracey Bennett, a mum of two from Hastings, told the officials how Triple P taught her that in order to look after her children, she needed to ensure she was looking after herself.

“The course covered everything and was relaxed and very informative. They introduced us to the idea of small steps, big success, and I always keep this in mind. It has made me strip back the way I parent and look at my own style,” she said.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme is delivered through schools and in Hastings is funded jointly by East Sussex County Council and NHS Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as part of ‘Healthy Hastings and Rother’ – A scheme set up by the CCG to tackle health inequalities in the area as part of the wider East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) programme, which is transforming and integrating health and care in East Sussex to achieve the best possible services for local people.

Following the visit, East Sussex County Council’s Assistant Director for Early Help and Social Care, Liz Rugg, said: “The need for support for parents was identified more than two years ago by GPs in Hastings and Rother who were seeing growing numbers of parents struggling to cope with a range of behavior issues.

“Return visits from frustrated parents were beginning to dominate GP surgery time, while the escalating mental health issues of parents due their children’s behaviour was considered manageable if the behaviour issue could be addressed.

“The Triple P programme has proved successful in addressing the issue and we were delighted to have been able to showcase the service to the Whitehall officials.”

Dr. Susan Rae, GP at Silver Springs Surgery, St Leonards-On-Sea, and Hastings and Rother CCG’s clinical lead for health inequalities, said: “As a local GP I’ve spoken to many parents about the problems they have experienced with their children’s behaviour and seen first-hand the effect this can have on their physical and mental health.

“Triple P is making a real difference to the families that have participated in the programme, and the feedback I have received in terms of the positive impact it has had has been extremely encouraging.”

Triple P UK chief executive officer Matt Buttery praised the East Sussex model of delivery of Triple P to the community.

He said: “Positive parenting in the home learning environment is a key factor in supporting young people to thrive and achieve their full potential, through improved attendance, behaviour, resilience as well as academic outcomes.”

“Triple P is working with a number of partners in Hastings and across East Sussex to deliver real and sustained change to improve children’s life chances, and we look forward to continuing our work and expanding our offer so that all young people across the country can achieve their full potential.’’

Ends.