The Parenting Toolkit offers a range of training for parents and professionals working with families, based on The Parenting Toolkit book.
The Parenting Toolkit book is authored by Caroline Penney and based on her vast experience of helping hundreds of families in her professional and clinical practice as a family therapist. The Parenting Toolkit training material is continually updated with the latest research and is embedded in Caroline’s own experience as a reflective practitioner but also very importantly, as a parent and grandparent.
Services
What We Do
Our training packages help professionals to develop and improve their own practice when working with parents and families by using the Parenting Toolkit on both a one to one basis and in a group setting.
The principles of the Parenting Toolkit are explored on different levels, enabling practitioners to feel they have sufficient tools to work with parents and passing on the tools families need.
We have different training packages to meet the different needs of participants. Training is offered online or in person, in an intensive or comprehensive format.
We offer ongoing monthly small group supervision for anyone wanting to use the Parenting Toolkit material in their work. Individuals can sign up to a group and benefit from sharing ideas and experiences.
Who We Are
Caroline Penney and Cathy Kearney have worked together developing course material, training and supervision packages based on Caroline’s book.
Their partnership spans more than 20 years. Their mutually supportive and collaborative approach enables them to work together as a fantastic team, sharing an approach to parenting and adult education which always places value on the individual.
Caroline Penney BSc, SRN, MSc, PGCE pioneered the Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities project at the South London and Maudsley Hospital, London, where she trained parents to run parenting groups. A systemic family therapist she has run parenting education and facilitator training courses in many countries. She is the mother of three children and the grandmother of two. Her great-grandfather was Sigmund Freud and her great-aunt was Anna Freud whose work has inspired her. She has spent thirty years working in parenting education, social services, Parent Network, the Maudsley Hospital and the Lantern Family Centre. She has written several parenting manuals.
Cathy Kearney first started working with parents in the local community when her own 3 sons were small, over 20 years ago. She ran her first parenting course when she was a Deputy Centre Manager of a Family Centre. Cathy subsequently moved to China with her young family for three years, running parenting courses for parents of children with addictions. On her return to the UK, Cathy was a Family Support Worker for offenders and their families. At this point, Cathy joined the Empowering Parents Empowering Communities team initially as an Outreach Worker, then a Hub Manager and finally as a Specialist Trainer. She currently works independently as a trainer and community development worker in a wide range of settings. Her passion for family and community work has led her to gain two Masters degrees – in Children and Families Work and Social Policy.
Why You’ll Love Us
We take a flexible approach to parenting and working with parents.
- Collaborative we work with individuals and staff teams
- Supportive to parents and professionals alike
- Parent-focussed our material is built on many years experience listening to and working with parents
- Child-centred we keep children at the heart of our work
- Reflective we are always reflecting on our own work whilst providing safe, reflective spaces for practitioners through supervision.
“Enjoy this book. Enjoy parenting”
Foreword to the Parenting Toolkit.
Steve Biddulph
“A very enjoyable training.”
Course Participant, 2023
“Brilliant Facilitators, delivery and interactive exercises. Can’t wait to start delivering”
Course participant, 2023
Parenting Toolkit Resources
Our packages
The Parenting Toolkit book
Authored by Caroline and originally published in 2018, “The Parenting Toolkit: simple steps to happy and confident children” is now available in hard or soft back. It is available directly from the publisher, Hawthorn Press or from other booksellers. It’s a great access point for anyone interested in the Parenting Toolkit materials, or for parents who want some parenting tips. The book is written in an accessible way with illustrations and stories that reflect the realities of parenting.
The Parenting Toolkit course for parents
This 9 week course provides an opportunity for parents to explore the Parenting Toolkit skills in depth, with plenty of exercises to support parents. Parents leave the course with a whole toolkit of parenting strategies to use with their children, to support them in their development, celebrating their uniqueness, whilst continuing to empower and strengthen the parent/child relationship. Additionally, the group setting ensures that parents are supported by course leaders and other parents as they work through the skills together.
The Parenting Toolkit for Professionals
Training for professionals who wish to deliver Parenting Toolkit courses for parents, or use the material in their work, is available in a variety of formats. Online and face to face courses for professionals are offered in a comprehensive (4 day) or intensive (6 hour) format, to suit differing staff needs. The comprehensive format provides the opportunity to look at parenting and group work skills in depth, whilst the intensive format provides an overview of these skills. Both formats require participants to read the Parenting Toolkit book in advance. Further reading and preparations is expected of participants attending intensive courses.
Further details and costs can be provided by emailing us on parentingtoolkit.cathy@gmail.com
Parenting Toolkit 