Parents Under Pressure (PuP) – delivered by Family Support Link: A process and outcome evaluation.

The Parents Under Pressure (PuP) programme is designed for families in which there are many difficult life circumstances that impact on family functioning.1 Such problems may include mental health challenges such as trauma, substance misuse, family conflict and severe financial stress. The programme is individually tailored to suit each family. Parents are given their own Parent Workbook. For many parents, this becomes a personal journal documenting their strengths and achievements. The programme is being delivered in Northamptonshire by Family Support Link (FSL). Reach In the funding cycle (which was condensed due to delays in the release of funds from the Home Office): • 33 referrals were received which were recorded as having 58 children between them • All those referred have substance misuse issues, more commonly with drugs than with alcohol • 19 (58%) of those referred also had a mental health issue • At the start of the programme, there was a Child Protection Plan in place in 18 (55%) cases referred Effectiveness Although, there was only three service user responses, they were very positive towards the programme, particularly in terms of improving relationships with their children, increasing their ability to regulate their emotions and building their confidence. Professionals from FSL and referring agencies all gave specific anonymised case examples that they felt illustrated the benefits of the programme. Key components of the programme that they highlighted as strengths were its flexible client centred approach, that it is strength focused and non-judgemental and it can rebuild communication between clients and other key agencies. In terms of quantitative outcome measures: • 23 of the 33 referrals had been closed2, five (22%) of which were recorded as not having engaged at all and therefore, cannot be considered as disengaging from the programme. Of the remaining 18, nearly three quarters (13, 72%) had a ‘successful exit’. • Although pre- and post-DASS-21 scores3 varied and did not improve in all cases, on average cases saw a 14-point improvement in the stress score, 9-point improvement in their depression score and 11-point improvement in their anxiety score. • Of the 18 cases that had completed engagement with the programme, 11 had a Child Protection Plan (CPP) in place at the start of the programme for their child/ren. There was a positive change in the level of the CPP in four of these cases by the end. Adoption FSL have felt very supported by the NSVPP (in the form of their liaison with the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner). In addition, engaging referrers has not been a challenge as those agencies that were selected to be able to refer into the programme have established relationships with FSL and there has been good reciprocal communication throughout. Implementation FSL have delivered this national and internationally evidence-based programme for one-year prior to NVSPP funding. The NSVPP funding allowed them to open the offer up to parents with older children who are potentially more at risk of becoming involved in violence related behaviours. It also allowed for the programme to be delivered within a new setting, a male residential recovery addiction rehabilitation centre, which resulted in supporting more fathers but also highlighted the benefits of delivering the Programme in this type of setting as residents were abstinent, were used to working in a group together so it was an established safe place and they were largely free from a lot of the pressures of the wider world and so could fully focus on the Programme. Maintenance Key to Long-term maintenance for the clients is that they are at the right stage of their recovery when they are referred so the programme can continue them along their journey. Also, key to maintenance is the extent to which the programme is adaptable and mindful of the specific needs of clients, FSL adapt in terms of type of delivery (one-to-one/ group), where it is delivered and regularity of sessions dependent on client need as well as managing expectations of support longevity and taking a considered and staged approach to exiting clients from the programme. In terms of what next, FSL are keen to extend referral avenues and to provide a peer support aspect to the programme. Additionally, based on identified need, they are hoping to adapt the PuP programme, focusing on elements like emotional regulation, to support young people who might be at risk of becoming involved in violence. IPSCJs Recommended Next Steps • The NSVPP continue to be a supportive and approachable funder, providing a sounding board and support to service providers. • NSVPP to assist where possible in increasing awareness of, and understanding about PuP, amongst partners and future referrers, including what constitutes appropriate referrals. • For evaluation, we recommend that the secondary data sheet is reviewed to maximise the reach and outcomes data collected, semi-structured interviews are conducted with some service users and NSVPP, FSL and IPSCJ review how the research team can monitor, inform and support future developments in the programme. 1 Parents under pressure (2025). About PuP. Australia. URL: https://pupprogram.net.au/about-pup/program-overview/ 2 10 were still active so our excluded when looking at cases that disengaged from the programme. 3 Where possible the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) was completed with parents to assess their emotional states pre and post the programme