Accredited Training


Parenting NI has developed and is offering the OCN Level 4 Certificate in Working with Parents which aims to provide learners with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively work with and support parents.

The Level 4 certificate course will require a standard of commitment to independent learning and managing of time.

The qualification is targeted at Childcare Workers from private childcare settings, Sure Start workers, Classroom Assistants, Community Workers, Early Years Workers, After School Workers, Family Support Workers or anyone who works with parents.

Learners should have at least a Level 3 qualification in Early Years, Health & Social Care, Playwork or equivalent and at least 2 years’ experience in a relevant setting.

Qualification Aim

This qualification is aimed at key workers who deliver support to families with multiple needs. Key Workers may be working in family intervention projects, community settings and/or social care settings. 

Qualification Objectives

The objectives of this qualification is to enhance the skills, knowledge and practice of practitioners by providing support to parents through: 

Unit 1: Working with Parents to Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

The learner will understand the principles and values needed to establish relationships and work effectively with parents by understanding:

  • The principles and values for working with parents
  • How to build and maintain positive relationships when working with parents
  • The barriers to engaging effectively with parents
  • Their own organisational processes for working with parents

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Unit 2: Supporting Parents with Multiple and Complex Needs

The learner will develop their skills and knowledge in evidence based and evidence informed practice to support parents with multiple and complex needs by:

  • Understanding the diverse needs of parents and their impact on families
  • Understanding family dynamics and their impact on family relationships
  • Being able to work with parents to address multiple and complex needs to facilitate change
  • Understanding the importance of working in partnership with support services

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Unit 3: Quality improvement within Parenting Support

The learner will be able to embed quality approaches and improvement strategies to promote continuous service improvement in working with parents by being:

  • Aware of current parenting support services
  • Able to develop and implement improvements to parenting support

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Unit 4: Promoting parent and child play

The learner will understand the principles and values of effectively promoting parent and child play by:

  • Understanding the importance of promoting parent and child play
  • Being able to improve parent and child play

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Unit 5: Reflective Practice When Working With Parents

The learner will be able to understand the importance and the need for reflective practice when working with parents and support parental self-reflection by being able to:

  • Reflect on own work practice
  • Support parental self-reflection