Genuine question to all parents regarding support services available.

[BEX2912]

Hi Mumsnet.

This is my first time using Mumsnet and I have to say I am a little confused - so I'm going to chuck this here and hope I get a response!! ha!

I am a child behaviour specialist - I have previously worked for the council as a family support worker and LOVED my job, however working for the council was .... let's say... tricky, I have since left but I genuinely miss working with families and helping people.

I would love to set up my own business, supporting families who are having difficulties with anything from child mental health, behavioural issues, sleep, learning or physical disabilities. It would support and guidance - not telling you how to be a parent - providing different ideas, strategies and ways to implement them - supporting you through it.

My question - and worry - is would people pay for this when it is available for free on the council? Obviously the waiting list is HUGE and the support available is changing to families who tend to need a lot of support rather than people who just have questions, queries or worries. Also I found that actual practical support was difficult to find - especially when it came to child mental health. CAMHS is great in it's own way but the waiting list is again huge and that is more therapy than solution focused support.
I would basically like to open up the support to the masses rather than just people who need intensive support.

So, would this be something you would want access to?
How would you access it - face to face, via website, social media?
Do you prefer to get support from other parents rather than professionals?
If it was something you were interested in would you prefer to travel to an office base or would you prefer the support in your own home?

Thank you in advance for your honest opinions.
I really appreciate it. ANY answer is absolutely okay. I am just putting feelers out in the best place I know!

In what way are you a child behaviour specialist, what are your qualifications?

Will you be offering reduced rates to those on limited incomes, as other therapists do? If not, then you're not offering a service to the masses, but to a select few who can afford private help.

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

That's a really good point - I have been looking into various ways to provide support for lower incomes and still be able to earn a living- whether that also means setting up a charity (potentially having to do that first) which people can apply to in order to get money for support I'm not sure, and I do know that the council has a fund for providing private care to people on low incomes - but I will definitely be thinking about how to offer it up to all.

My the main qualifications I have are (there are more but these are the most relevant to this thread) :
-Degree in working with children, families and young people - which looked at the holistic child and specifically looked at developmental stages.
-Degree in Cognitive behavioural therapy - which looked at mental health.
-Positive parenting programme (Triple P)
-NVR (Non-violent resistance - this looks at how to support parents if they have children who are violent towards them. It helps to respond to the attacks in non-violent ways, to avoid further confrontation, restraint and any returned violence - by promoting and supporting the parents to further build the relationship with the child, to create a calmer home environment). This is the most incredible programme and I personally love the things it promotes.

• Protective behaviours
• Mental health first aid

-Pace -Home education and child protection. -Emotion coaching

• Autism awareness
• Developmental delays and how to support them.

I'm trained in a variety of parenting programmes which are evidence-based and look at supporting the parent in what works for them. Previously while working with families we spent time discussing which would work best for their family and their situation as they won't all work for every family.
I've also worked with families and young people for the last 10+ years, in a variety of settings, but again primarily I was a family support worker for the council.

Again, thank you for the food for thought. :)

I would agree that the biggest issue will be cost, statistically speaking there is a higher prevalence of families suffering with these problems on low incomes. You need to think about your target market other wise you might end up in a situation where the ones who need you can't afford you and the ones who can afford you don't need you

Yes, this was my biggest worry - thank you for your comment :)

I think I am going to have a rethink and do it a bit differently - maybe I'll have a rethink.

Thanks very much :)

There was no nhs support for dd through camhs when she was depressed anxious and seriously self harming. I therefore paid for a consultant psychiatrist. If I am spending my own money I would spend it only on the highest level of clinical expertise and look for that person to refer to therapistsor other channels of vocational support.

In the event dd had undiagnosed adhd which the psychiatrist diagnosed and started treatment for. DD then recovered. Unless you cd provide that level of support, no I wouldn't source you directly but might have used such services had the psychiatrist recommended them.