Reducing Parental Conflict Programme

A £39m programme aimed at reducing conflict between parents in disadvantaged families is to be trialled in 30 council areas. This is to build on existing activity, committed expert organisations and the latest evidence to maximise the impact of investment. 

Objective 1 is about ensuring proven interventions are more widely available to improve children’s outcomes

Objective 2 is around supporting local areas to embed parental conflict support in wider services for children

This follows evidence that DWP presented stating that

• Parental conflict (whether parents together or separated) places children at risk of poor social, emotional and educational outcomes
• Parental conflict across the spectrum from “silence to violence” is potentially damaging
• Growing group of proven interventions to reduce parental conflict, improve child outcomes and potential to avoid need for expensive services later down the line
• Offering evidence-based support with parenting likely to be ineffective where there is conflict between parents