What is Childfocus Parent Mentoring?

Parent Mentoring is part of a range of supports offered by the ISPCC’s Childfocus service.
It is a special, supportive relationship between a parent/carer and a trained volunteer mentor.  This is an informal support system.

 

Why do some people seek Parent mentoring?

Parents seek support for a wide variety of reasons but the majority of parents seek a mentor to get support and advice around their own parenting skills.

What do Parent mentors do?

Parent Mentors support and encourage parents/carers to use positive parenting approaches with the children.  Parent mentees provide informal emotional support to parents/carers.
This relationship is based on trust and respect, and the understanding that parents can benefit by communicating their feelings, insights and questions with a parent mentor.

 
Benefits of Parent mentoring

A parent mentor can be of huge benefit to the parent as it offers the opportunity to get informal support from a peer.

Parent mentoring can be an enormous benefit in nurturing the parent/child relationship and strengthening families.

 
Feedback from Parents

The ISPCC wants to make sure that Parent Mentoring is meeting the needs of parents.  Take a look at what some parents have had to say:

One parent described the service as a "God send". 

‘There isn’t a thing I would like to change about <parent mentor>, she is a great person.’

‘My parent mentor is a very nice person. I look forward to her visits and she is a great help to me.’

‘I feel it is a great service. Parents can really benefit from this support network.’

If you would like to receive support from a parent mentor, please phone your local Childfocus office and speak to one of the Childfocus workers.

 

Contact Childfocus

If a parent is interested in receiving support, and the service is available in your region, a local mentor will be found who can best meet the needs of that parent.

Email: ISPCC
Tel:     01 676 7960