Early Help

Parental relationships

Parental conflict

Parental conflict is unhealthy relations below the threshold of domestic abuse. Conflict is a normal part of a healthy relationship, however, when conflict is frequent, intense, and poorly resolved it can have a detrimental impact. There is strong evidence to suggest that conflict between parents has an impact on children’s self-esteem, mental and physical health, behaviour, academic achievements, relationships as well as other long-term life-chances.

Healthy parental relationships have fluid and constructive communication. This promotes effective joint parenting whether couples are together or separated. Conflict in relationships can occur in all types of families such as biological parents, stepparents, foster and adoptive parents, grandparents and separated and divorced parents.

It is evident that most parents do not want to intentionally harm their children, but their own life experiences and their lived experiences influences the way they communicate. This is highlighted in the following video Life is like a Jar of Marbles.mp4 – Google Drive

Reducing Parental Conflict in Devon – Evaluation Report

Devon County Council is delighted to share the ‘Reducing Parental Conflict in Devon Evaluation Report,’ which showcases the collaborative efforts of council staff and partner agencies. This report highlights the outstanding support provided to families in addressing parental relationship issues. It also emphasises the ongoing progress in this area, with a vision to prepare and train individuals from all services and community sectors who support children, young people, and parents to recognise and offer appropriate support for relationship challenges. The report covers various aspects, including programmes and resources offered to parents, staff training, sustainability advancements, data analysis, and more.

Reducing Parental Conflict in Devon Evaluation Report

Support for parents and carers

Information for parents about parental relationships and parental conflict is available on our Children, families and education website. Please feel free to share these pages with any families that you are supporting.

The pages cover what is meant by parental conflict, the possible causes of parent conflict, and the impact it can have on children. They also provide some guidance of how parental conflict might be reduced, as well as details of tools and resources that may be useful.

Parental relationships information for parents

Parental relationship eLearning Toolkit

Devon County Council is offering two fully funded e-learning modules, for anyone supporting children and parents:

  • Parental conflict – supporting parents
  • Parental conflict – supporting children

Topics such as parental conflict, research findings, and the impact on children will be covered. The training will offer valuable insights and effective tools that you can use to support parents.

Find out more about our parental relationships training

For more information about the training, or any aspect of parental conflict, please contact the Parental Relationship Co-ordinator, Lorraine Rowlands, on 01395 328905  or email lorraine.rowlands@devon.gov.uk

Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse, also called “domestic violence” or “intimate partner violence”, can be defined as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviours that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socio-economic backgrounds and education levels.

Domestic Abuse Support Services

 

 

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person in Devon, please make a request for support or report a child safety concern.

 

In an emergency call 999.


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