Around half of parents with learning difficulties have their children removed from them.  A new study, launched today, outlines the support needed to enable parents with learning difficulties and their children to stay together as a family.

The study,  Finding the right support? A review of issues and positive practice in supporting parents with learning difficulties and their children, was carried out by Bristol University’s Norah Fry Research Centre and was funded by the Baring Foundation.

An increasing number of adults with learning difficulties are becoming parents.  They represent a sizeable population whose needs have so far not been adequately addressed by health and social services.

The study highlights the issues confronting parents and professionals, along with strategies for positive practice.  Key findings from the study include:

• Staff in some services have a negative attitude about parents with learning difficulties which hinders the provision of appropriate support to them.
• Nonetheless staff in some services are supporting parents with learning difficulties to parent to the best of their ability by encouraging them to learn skills and by providing on-going support.
• Easy to understand information needs to be made available to parents with learning difficulties on all areas of parenting and advocacy support, especially during child protection and judicial proceedings.
• Training is required in child protection issues for professionals working in services for adults with learning difficulties; and about adults with learning difficulties and their support needs for those involved in children’s services.
• Many adults with learning difficulties are deemed ‘too able’ to qualify for the support services they require.  Eligibility criteria for services need to take into account their additional needs for support for parenting.

Professor Linda Ward, co-author of the study and Director of the Norah Fry Research Centre, said: “We hope as a result of this study more parents with learning difficulties will be given ‘the right support’ so they can be good parents to their children and stay together as a family.

“Further work needs to be carried out to ensure positive developments and sharing of good practice in supporting parents with learning difficulties at local level with changes at national policy level too.”

David Cutler, Director of the Baring Foundations, added: “We are delighted to award the Norah Fry Research Centre a further grant of £120,000 to take the study forward by supporting practitioners and promoting policy change.”