Published on: 20 May 2024
Derbyshire Healthcare is now offering free access to online courses for parents in Derby to better understand their children’s mental and physical health. 
The courses have been expertly designed in line with a national model called the Solihull Approach to improve access to high-quality support and advice for families. Concerns that impact children with additional needs – including learning disabilities and autism – are also covered in many of the courses, as well as in the ‘understanding your child with additional needs’ course.
The Solihull Approach supports mental health and wellbeing in parents, children, schools, older adults and high stress workplaces through evidence-based training, online courses and resources. These courses include the same content as a face-to-face meeting between parent and health visitor. They are available in a wide range of languages, including voiceovers in English and Urdu for those who are visually and audibly impaired. The purpose of these virtual courses is to allow them to be accessed at any time and any place, with little guidance.
Some parents have shared their feedback on the courses from other areas of the country:
“A very easy to understand way of putting things and no longer will I fight against things that I cannot change due to biology.”
“This is desperately needed and such a quality product for parents who are navigating an often lonely and frightening path with a child with disabilities. So many of our parenting referrals are from parents who are struggling with children who are neurodiverse and we, too, have had some excellent feedback from parents about the course.”
“Well presented information, with enough biology and explanation to fully understand the changes that are taking place – also helpful suggestions of how to accommodate the teen years.”
Danielle Nicholson, Deputy Area Service Manager for children aged 0-19 at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This partnership will enable parents with children accessing our services to better understand their child’s feelings when navigating life as a family.
“The courses are expertly designed for parents to understand the changes in their child’s development and how to support them. The Trust are committed to supporting all families through an accessible resource. We are confident that information provided online will help our children and their families.”
These courses are developed by psychologists at the Solihull Approach in partnership with health experts, schools and psychotherapists as well as parents. Some courses include:
- Understanding your child with additional needs
- Understanding your preterm or sick baby now your home
- Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager
- Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
- Understanding your teenager’s brain
- Understanding your feelings – for teenagers only
Parents can access a full list of these courses free of charge online if they have a Derby postcode – they simply create an account to gain access – and once they sign up they will have unlimited access to these courses and all future ones to be added. Further details, including how to register and access the courses, are available at the In Our Place website. Please use the access code: MARKEATON when signing up.
