Parenting
I am currently working for the Local Youth Offending Team with responsibility for parenting. One of my projects at the moment is writing the manual for a very successful course I have designed with a colleague from YOT. We call the programme 'Living With Parents' and it is quite rare in so much that both parents and young people spend a day together looking in a fun and activity based manner at their communication skills and relationships. Below you can see a little more about the initial workshop as described by a Dorset County Council colleague.
(Not my photograph)
Living With Parents
A new workshop run by the Dorset Youth Offending Team is encouraging teenagers and parents to listen to each other and understand each other's point of view.
The pilot session, called 'Living With Parents', took place in Dorchester and brought together parents and teenagers from Weymouth , Portland and Dorchester .
As part of its responsibility to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour the Dorset Youth Offending Team is increasingly working proactively with teenagers, parents, the child and adolescent mental health services and the Dorset Police community relations department. 'Living With Parents' dealt with serious issues such as setting house rules and acceptable behaviour through games, role playing and group discussions.
One of the parents summed up the day, "I don't think it could have been better!", and Dorset Youth Offending Team trainers Yvonne Sullivan and Paul Vittle were equally enthusiastic:
"We've seen an increase in the number of requests for support from parents experiencing difficult relationships with their teenagers. The aim of 'Living With Parents' was designed to encourage better communication between parents and young people, and we hope the success of the day will lead to other workshops being held across the county."
The Youth Offending Team works constructively and positively to prevent offending and re-offending by children and young people. The 30-strong team is working with 150 young people across Dorset, offering anger management, drug counselling, support and advice.
My parenting work not only includes this style of workshop, but I also work with individuals, couples and families.
If you are interested in this area, please do not hesitate to contact me paul.vittle@lifecoachingplus.co.uk