Parenting programmes provide parents with an opportunity to improve their skills in dealing with the behaviour that puts their child at risk of offending.

They provide parents/carers with:

• one-to-one advice,
• practical support in handling the behaviour of their child,
• setting appropriate boundaries and improving communication.

By improving the parenting skills of parents/carers, these programmes are addressing one of the major risk factors associated with young people at risk of offending.

Parents with a child that has become involved with the youth justice system may be offered the opportunity to voluntarily attend a parenting programme by the local youth offending team (YOT), if they consider that it would be useful. However, if voluntary participation cannot be achieved, a Parenting Order can be sought by the YOT which compels the parents/carers of a child at risk to attend.