Placements at Northridge Care Group Residential Family Centres
At Northridge Care Group, we carry out evidence-based parenting assessments to help determine the long-term living arrangements for children. Placements are between 12- 20 weeks and are tailored to suit the needs of each family. Parents take place in weekly programmes and are encouraged to join local community groups. The aim is to develop knowledge and skills around a range of practical and conceptual issues, essential to offering ‘good enough’ parenting.
1-2-1 support
At Northridge, our dedicated team provides 1-2-1 support, advice and practical sessions for all families. We communicate regularly with all service users to ensure we address any concerns along their journey. It’s our mission to provide vulnerable parents with opportunities to look after their child in a safe and nurturing environment.
Assessments
Each bespoke PAM assessment or pre-birth assessment is evidence-based, respectful and led by the courts and local authorities. We recognise the individual’s unique identity and circumstances and create a programme that meets the specific needs of the family and child. Throughout the placement, we continually assess and make appropriate changes to each programme where necessary. We work closely with each family, regularly meeting up to give feedback on their progress during their assessment (which is also sent to the local authority and courts).
Weekly parenting
programmes
Our weekly parenting programmes are specifically tailored to the family we’re working with. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. We work alongside parents to identify both their strengths and identify areas in need of support. Our team offers advice and practical sessions designed to encourage parents to develop the knowledge and skills they need to offer ‘good enough’ parenting.
Key topics we explore:
- Attachment, bonding & emotional warmth
- Behaviour management & setting boundaries
- Health & hygiene
- Child development
- Basic childcare skills
- Safety
- Domestic violence
- Substance abuse
Exploring children’s needs
The welfare and safety of children is at the forefront of everything we do. We work with parents to address their particular problems, in line with the Letter of Instruction, and assess their ability to parent safely and put their children’s needs first.
Our sessions may explore some, or all, of the following children’s needs:
Feeding
- Nutrition and weaning
- Sterilising and making up feeds
- Making up formulas for babies
- Bottle feeding a baby
- Spoon feeding a baby
Health & safety
- Basic hygiene
- Child safety
- Childhood illness
- Child protection
- Recognising a sick baby
- Common health problems for new families
Practical parenting skills
- Bathing a baby
- Changing nappies
- Handling
- Common breastfeeding concerns
Child development skills
- Emotional, physical and developmental needs
- Play and stimulation
- Routines
- Challenging behaviour
- Boundary setting
- Speech and language development
- General baby care development and stimulation
Exploring parent’s needs
It’s our mission to empower and support parents to make positive changes, helping to build their independent living and parenting abilities.
Our sessions may explore some, or all, of the following parent’s needs:
Independent living skills
- Budgeting
- Developing a healthy lifestyle
Family work
- Building a family unit
- Relationship work
- Shared routines
- Role models
- Shared care
Self-care
- Taking “time-out” in a safe and planned manner.
- How past events impact on the present and make the need for change a difficulty
- Coping with parental stress
- Protection and awareness
- Anger management
- Domestic abuse
- Loss and bereavement
- Self-esteem and confidence building Relationship/mediation work
- Alcohol/Substance misuse (random drug testing can be completed)
Parenting skills
- Forming a relationship with their child
- Responding to the needs of their child
- Coping with challenging behaviour
- Building a child’s self-esteem and confidence
- Keeping children safe
- Why babies cry
- Roles and responsibilities of being a parent
Join the team
If you want to make a real difference to children’s lives, we’d love to hear from you.