SFSC Stronger Relationships (RPC) Programme

Overview

Conflict between parents which is frequent, intense and poorly resolved, whether they live together or apart, can harm children’s physical,  emotional, social, and academic development. The Department for Work and Pensions launched the Reducing Parental Conflict initiative to support local authorities in tackling this issue.

SFSC Stronger Relationships aligns with RPC priorities while also supporting parents dealing with additional pressures, such as:

  • Housing instability
  • Financial hardship
  • Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Education-related stress

These challenges can increase conflict and reduce the ability to communicate constructively. Our programme is designed to be inclusive and flexible, meeting parents where they are on their relationship and parenting journeys.

The SFSC Stronger Relationships (RPC) Programme

This programme helps parents reduce harmful conflict and strengthen co-parenting relationships and skills. It supports parents who are together, separated or parenting in blended or extended families to improve communication and minimise the impact of disagreements on their children, while also offering parenting support and skills.

The SFSC Stronger Relationships programme is NOT suitable for co-parents where there has been or there is an ongoing risk of domestic violence, the use of coercive power and control and one parent is afraid of the other. If in doubt about a parent’s suitability, please contact the team with your enquiry: sfscparent@racefound.org.uk

Value of the SFSC Stronger Relationships Programme

For Parents

  • Learn how to reduce conflict and improve co-parenting
  • Gain tools to communicate more effectively
  • Improve emotional well-being
  • Complete the course flexibly online, at their own pace

For Services

  • Reduced interparental conflict
  • Reduction in impact of conflict on children
  • Improved parental well being
  • Improved parent and child relationship

Outcomes:

Reduced interparental conflict

Reduction in impact of conflict on children

Improved parent and child relationship

Improved parental well being

Resources 

To help parents and colleagues understand more about the SFSC Stronger Relationships programme, please share/use these flyers.

For Parents

How to Register Flyer – Includes a QR code linking directly to the SFSC registration form

Programme Overview Flyer – Summary of programme for parents

For Professionals

Professional Flyer for Referrals – Includes key information and a QR code for quick and easy registration

Programme Modules  Flyer – A detailed breakdown of each module

How to register parents

Parents must register directly and can begin the programme at any time.

Step-by-step:

  1. Visit the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities website
  2. Select the relevant programme that the parent needs to register for
  3. Click on the SFSC Stronger Relationships Programme registration page to register
  4. Complete registration, ensuring the postcode is entered to confirm access to LA’s licence

Quick Access:

  • Use our specific programme flyers with QR codes to get access to the relevant SFSC course registration page
  • Practitioners can assist parents with registration during visits or appointments

REF Recruitment Support

The Race Equality Foundation will also support local recruitment through community groups, third sector organisations, and local campaigns.

Monitoring & reporting

As part of your licence, you will receive quarterly reports detailing:

  • Number of parents registered
  • Engagement rates: completion, participation and non-engagement
  • Demographics of registered parents (age, ethnicity, gender)

These reports are designed to support local evaluation and DWP reporting.  If you need additional information, please contact us.

If you have any questions or need support, please contact the SFSC team. We’re here to help you get the most from your local authority’s licence.

If you have purchased the joint licence or would like to learn more about the additional SFSC Introduction to Parenting Programme, click below

FAQs

New groups are scheduled regularly and availability can be checked on the registration pages for each programme here: Registration - SFSC Introduction Parenting Programme and Registration - SFSC Stronger Relationships Programme 

 

Yes. The SFSC team has successfully supported parents of neurodiverse children and the programmes have techniques which can be tailored to the unique needs of the adults and children in any family

Contact the SFSC team with your request and the names of the co-parents and they will liaise with the parents to ensure that they are in different groups

Please contact the SFSC team. Group discussions can be offered in a community language as long as groups can be filled with a minimum of six parents

Yes. The SFSC team has extensive experience of supporting parents and carers involved in care proceedings, through the FGC process, those considering kinship care and parents wanting to settle the living and parenting arrangements for their children.