Parenting Assessment and Skills Development

Tweddle’s Parenting Assessment and Skills Development Service (PASDS) is available to parents who have children between 0 and 3 years who are currently involved with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).

Capacity, Competency, Strengths and Goals

The aim of this program is to carry out an assessment of parenting capacity and competency.  It assesses whether new skills can be developed to nurture and meet a child’s intellectual, emotional and physical needs. This work is guided by goals set by the parent, the PASDS Coordinator and the DFFH protective worker.

The Tweddle PASDS Care Coordinator and staff will look at areas of concern or difficultly and develop strategies to help address these. Together, Tweddle and each family undertakes an assessment focusing on some of the following areas:

• The child’s developmental, physical, social and emotional needs.
• The family history and the impact/influence this has on current family/individual functioning.
• The parenting capacity –  what areas is support needed and what areas are going well.
• The family and external supports.

From here, a skills development program will be created and implemented to build on areas of strengths and address any areas of concerns.

Families who can access the service

Families can be only be referred to the Tweddle PASDS Program by the DFFH.

How PASDS works

PASDS aims to undertake an assessment of parenting competency which includes the full range of factors that may compromise the safety of an infant including; the impact of substance misuse, family violence, mental illness or intellectual disability as well as parenting skills relating to the child’s healthy development

How clients can benefit from this service

PASDS can enhance attachment between the parent and their infant, improve the parent’s knowledge of child development and parenting skills and confidence. The PASDS team work with the families across a number of goals. These include:

• Life skills (cooking, outings, budgeting, time management, forward planning, goal-setting)
• Bonding and Attachment (getting to know your child through play, observing and responding to cues)

Dedicated Peer Support Worker

Tweddle PASDS team includes a Peer Support Worker who is employed to support parents, families, and carers. He has a ‘lived experience’ as participating in the PASDS program and an understanding of what families might be going through. He has completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

The Peer Support Worker can help with client advocacy, providing information around rights and responsibilities. He also supports families with problem solving, sharing experiences, helping understand the health system and providing useful tips.  He assists clients to achieve their outcomes, fosters hope and provides support and mentoring.

Referrals to Tweddle’s PASDS Program

The Child Protection team leader Practice Leader or delegated person contacts the Tweddle PASDS Program Manager or delegate for a consultation and to discuss the process to make a referral,

• The Tweddle Program Manager works in partnership with Child protection to discuss the referral, inform or eligibility and organises a time for an admission.
• Child Protection informs family of referral and ensures family is fully aware of period and intensity of service provision.
• Tweddle offers to make contact with the family at this stage and provides Child Protection with some information for the family and a link to a virtual tour of Tweddle. This assists in reducing any fears or anxiety the family may be experiencing.
• Child Protection arranges for a pre-admission meeting to occur with the family whereby PASDS Care Coordinator and/or the Program Manager can introduce the family to the Tweddle staff.  Families are then able to see where they will be staying  and can commence discussions regarding the reason for the admission, explaining the program and the families, DFFH and Tweddle’s goals.
• Tweddle PASDS Care Coordinator and Child Protection liaise throughout the program to exchange information and obtain progress updates
• Where possible families are informed of every aspect of the assessment and how they are going
• Upon case closure a formal written report inclusive of recommendations will be provided to Child Protection within 21 days of leaving the PASDS.

Contact us

To talk about our PASDS Program, please call Tweddle on 0404 472 552 or email highriskprograms@tweddle.org.au