Foundations Head of Practice Development, Nimal Jude introduces the latest Practice Guide for local leaders on parenting support for parents facing adversities who have children or young people aged 11–18.

As many people around me know, I had a turbulent adolescence. Even now, years later, I often talk with my parents about what might have helped us as a family during those challenging years. That time of testing boundaries, trying to figure out who you are, feeling invincible while taking dangerous risks – it’s a universal experience that plays out in homes across the country. And for parents, it’s watching from the other side: worrying, trying to set rules that seem to get pushed back against constantly, doing your best to keep your child safe while they’re desperate to spread their wings.

Layer onto this added complexities – different cultures and traditions; the powerful influence of hormones; confusion over identity and belonging; and the very real risks of exploitation – and things can become very serious and escalate very quickly. It’s no wonder that parenting teenagers could feel overwhelming.

That’s why I’m pleased to introduce the latest Practice Guide: Parenting Through Adversity, for parents of children and young people aged 11 to 18. This Practice Guide, commissioned by the Department for Education and produced by Foundations, has been developed to put evidenced-based practice at the fingertips of local leaders to support parents in navigating the adolescent years.

Working with our Advisory Group, we’ve distilled the best available evidence on what works for parents as they support young people through this critical developmental period. The guide contains practical, evidence-based recommendations for local leaders about how to strengthen and enhance parenting support to:

• Improve outcomes for young people showing behaviours that challenge or/and are involved in anti-social behaviour
• Improve parenting skills and confidence, as well as reduce parental mental health and parenting stress
• Improve overall family functioning and parent–child relationships
• Reduce internalising behaviours such as withdrawl, axniety and low mood in children and young people.

It also provides evidence on families’ circumstances, experiences, and preferences, highlighting effective ways to engage and work with them. The guide’s key principles remind us that:

• Parents value a local parenting offer which is culturally aware and responsive to their cultural values, beliefs, and experiences. Cultural responsiveness requires authentic partnership with communities, recognition of how structural inequalities affect different populations, and an understanding of families’ cultural contexts.
• Relational approaches matter. The quality of relationships between practitioners and families is a critical factor for parental engagement in programmes. Trusting relationships resulted in improved communication between parents and their children and/or young people, with parents also reporting increased confidence in their parenting skills.
• Commissioning and delivery should be responsive and adaptable to families’ varying needs. Families experiencing multiple and complex challenges are diverse, and flexibility in the intensity and frequency of parenting support was identified as key factor to successful engagement.
• Local systems that are evidence-informed, integrated, and innovative enable effective implementation of parenting support. Using evidence-based practice, addressing local population needs and having strong collaboration across agencies supported effective delivery of support for families.

The latest Practice Guide complements the Parenting through Adversity (0-10) Practice Guide. Together, these guides offer comprehensive parenting support guidance to local leaders in Children’s Services for families facing adversities.

The teenage years are marked by profound changes – physical, emotional, social, and psychological. For parents and carers, striking the right balance between guidance and freedom, between protection and trust, can feel like walking a tightrope.

The evidence shows us which parenting approaches can strengthen family relationships, support positive adolescent development, and reduce risks during these years. The Practice Guide translates this research into accessible recommendations that leaders and practitioners can apply in practice.

The teenage years don’t have to be something families simply survive – with the right support and knowledge, they can be a time of growth, connection, and positive development for everyone.

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Webinar sign-up: Parenting Through Adversity (11–18) Practice Guide

Following the launch of the Practice Guide we invite local leaders to attend an online session to hear from the Foundations team who developed the Practice Guide, and about the resources available to support them in reflecting on their local parenting support offer. Sign up to one of two sessions using the links below:

• Thursday 15 January 2026 | 10:30—12:00
• Tuesday 20 January 2026 | 11:00—12:30.