Parenting support

Visit the Health in Pregnancy Service (Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust) website for for information on the range of support available during pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting infants. You can also book onto their courses. They can help with:

• education classes and courses to support you ahead of your baby’s arrival 
• infant feeding education   
• womb to the world parenting  
• transition to fatherhood support

External resources:

• Birth to Five booklet contains help and support on becoming a parent, and taking care of yourself and your child
• tips for your birth father - whoever your birth partner is (the baby’s parent, a close friend, partner or a relative) there are many practical things they can do to support you
• the NHS pregnancy planner helps you to think through your pregnancy, labour and the birth of your child

The health visiting service offers a variety of programmes to support parents and carers of children 0-5 years, including:   

• introduction to solids workshop  
• understanding your child’s behaviour workshop  
• toilet training workshop  
• safe sleep workshop  
• 1:1 infant feeding support sessions  
• a parenting support group for parents whose children have a disability - 'Understanding Me'

Find out more about parenting support on Walsall health visiting website.

To book places on sessions call:

Health visitors team

Phone: 01922 423252

Disability health visitors team:

Phone: 01922 605800

Vulnerable children's health visitor team:

Phone: 01922 605656

We offer direct support, workshops and courses to support you as a parent/carer including:  

• understanding your child’s behaviour - workshop 
• understanding your child's behaviour - course
• teenage parenting
• cygnet autism
• adult resilience
• parents CHAT health - free confidential text advice and support service

Understanding your child’s behaviour - workshop

A two hour online workshop where you will gain knowledge and information around a child and young person’s behaviour along with self-help tips.

Workshops are a good place to start to access parenting support. They give you an insight to what may be having an impact on your child/rens behaviour and offer a ‘taster’ session before committing to attending future courses.  

You can access the workshop via a webinar.

How to book

Understanding your child’s behaviour - course

A 10-week course, 2-hour sessions per week for parents and carers who want to know more about sensitive and effective parenting.  

It helps you to develop a way of relating to your child/ren that promotes healthy child development, sensitive and reflective behaviour management.

How to book

Teenage parenting - course

There are two courses available:

1. Triple P: Parenting for those with children between 5 and 11 years of age. An 8-week course, 2-hour sessions per week. 
2. Teen Triple P: Parenting for those with children between 12 and 16 years of age. An 8-week course, 2-hour sessions per week. 

Both courses support you as a parent or carer. They focus on managing behaviour with the aim of increasing good behaviour.

Over the 8 weeks you will learn about: 

• causes of children’s behaviour  
• building positive relationships  
• promoting desirable behaviours  
• managing misbehaviour  
• dealing with risky behaviour or planning for high-risk times for behaviour problems

How to book

Cygnet autism course

Cygnet parenting is a specially designed programme for parents/carers of children and young people with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The programme can be helpful for any parent with a child with autism.

Sessions include:

• autism and diagnosis
• communication
• sensory issues
• understanding and managing behaviour

How to book

Adult resilience programme

A 5-week course, 2-hour session per week. This programme is for parents and carers who want to learn new skills to help improve confidence and building on self-esteem.  

Stress, anxiety and depression are common mental health difficulties which can affect anyone at any time.  Being a parent is a demanding job and at times we can all question ourselves and our abilities.  

Over the 5 weeks you will learn about how to:

• develop an awareness of own feelings, mindfulness and empathy  
• identify body clues when getting stressed and how to relax  
• challenge negative thoughts and turn them into positive thoughts  
• identify role models and build support networks  
• set goals and explore solutions and coping step plans

How to book

To book a place on any of the courses above, email wellbeing@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk or phone 01922 423349 and tell us the name of the course you'd like to join.

Parents CHAT health

Do you need some advice about your child’s health or development? Do you have questions about healthy weight, emotional health, behaviour or other health topics?  

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust School Nursing Service provide a safe, secure and confidential free text advice and support service.  You can contact the school nurse by text on 07520 634 909.  

 Your text will be answered by a qualified nurse who can offer you advice, sign post you to services that can help or arrange for you to see a school nurse in school, at a health centre or your local family centre.