The most important thing in a child's life is the relationships they have with the people around them. All relationships can be wonderful and difficult – and we feel this even more intensely in the relationships with our own children.
Our team of volunteers and staff have a real understanding of the stresses and challenges that all families face, and the impact this has on children.
When you contact Children 1st Parentline, you will be able to say what’s on your mind and share any concerns you might have. Together we’ll explore options for moving forward, looking at ways to cope with any difficulties. And we’ll talk through things you may want to try and suggest where to go for more help if needed.
We always try to:
- understand the situation as you see it
- think about what your hopes are – for you, for your child and for the future
- explore what course of action will work best for you and your family.
It’s never about telling you what to do. We’ll listen with kindness and give you the time, space and confidence to work through any tough decisions to make things better for you and your family.
What can Children 1st Parentline help with?
- Anything really – big or small. It might be a parenting challenge or question where you could do with some reassurance or a few suggestions. In more serious cases, you might be looking for advice if you’re worried a child is at risk of harm.
- Browse the guidance, or contact us by phone or by webchat for more in-depth support. It could be a one-off, or for as long as you need.
People sometimes think their worries are not important enough. But if something’s bothering you, or if you have a parenting question, then it’s very likely that others have contacted us about similar issues. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
What happens when you contact Children 1st Parentline? Angela's story
Who will you speak to?
When you contact Children 1st Parentline – by phone, email, text or webchat – you will come through to a friendly volunteer. Children 1st Parentline call takers are selected for having listening skills, empathy and a commitment to putting children and families first.
Our volunteers complete over 40 hours training to a level recognised by COSCA (Scotland’s professional body for counselling and psychotherapy). Before they start speaking to parents and carers they gain knowledge of child development, family relationships, childhood trauma and much more.
Staff supervisors oversee all calls, and are always on hand to provide support when needed.
Who is Children 1st Parentline for?
Children 1st Parentline is for anyone caring for or concerned about a child. This means dads as well as mums, grandparents, single parents and same sex parents. But we’re not just for parents – we also support kinship carers, foster carers, uncles, aunts, family friends, neighbours and professionals.
Confidentiality
When you call us, your telephone number does not show up and you do not have to give your name or address. You can tell us as much or as little about yourself as you want to. Sometimes, to ensure quality of service, a supervisor will listen to calls.
To help improve our services, training, research, report writing and case studies, we may use information gained from calls and emails to Children 1st Parentline. However, we ensure that all identifying features and details are removed.
We don't pass information to anyone unless you agree, except where a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of significant harm. If we think that's the case, we will pass on all details to Police Scotland or social work straight away to make sure they are safe. We can also do this anonymously if you prefer not to be identified.
Did we get it right?
We value your feedback about your experience of Children 1st Parentline – good or bad. So if you found us helpful please let us know. Or if you think we could have done something better please tell us how you think we can improve. You can give feedback by phone on 08000 28 22 33 or by filling in the form below.
If you wish to make a complaint about the service you’ve received from Parentline please follow our complaints procedure.
Children 1st Parentline webpages
Children 1st is very grateful to Kate Cairns Associates (KCA) who we collaborated with in the early development of new and updated content for Parentline on the Children 1st website. KCA’s subject expertise and Children 1st’s experience and knowledge of families and parents was blended to provide new content.
KCA provided training and consultancy to Parentline as part of this redevelopment.