Looking after you
Looking after you
Early Positive Approaches to Support
What is E-PAtS?
Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) is an 8 session, group-based, family support programme. It has been created especially for parents and family carers of young children (0-6) who have additional developmental needs. E-PAtS supports resilience and wellbeing for parents and family carers, positive development for children and proactive access to services.
Who has created E-PAtS?
All materials and sessions for E-PAtS have been co-produced by parents/family carers and professional experts. Work on E-PAtS began in 2012 led by Dr Nick Gore (a Clinical Psychologist who supports people with additional developmental needs and their families). Dr Nick Gore and Professor Jill Bradshaw (a Speech and Language Therapist) both lead on training for E-PAtS facilitators and organisations to deliver the programme.
Why E-PAtS?
Raising children brings both joys and challenges to families. Families of children with additional developmental needs sometimes require extra support to navigate through challenges that relate to their child’s particular needs. E-PAtS provides high quality information and sensitive support in the early years to help build bright futures for children and their families.
How does E-PAtS Work?
Every E-PAtS group is facilitated by a trained practitioner and trained parent/family carer who work in partnership. Between 3 and 12 parents/family carers typically make up an E-PAtS group. E-PAtS is most often delivered face to face but can also be delivered online.
Group sessions are designed to be emotionally supportive and meet the needs of a diverse range of families, supporting children with a variety of needs. Up to two adults per family can attend an E-PAtS group together. It’s absolutely fine for just one to attend too. There is no ‘homework’ in E-PAtS. All group members receive resources and materials to help build on ways to support their families now and in the future.
What does E-PAtS cover?
E-PAtS covers a range of topics that combine across the 8 sessions and cover.
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Accessing services and supports
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Emotional wellbeing and resilience for parents/family carers
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Supporting sleep for children
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Supporting interaction & communication
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Supporting everyday skills for children
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Understanding and supporting behaviours that challenge
What is E-PAtS like?
E-PAtS holds lived experience in high regard and recognises the expertise of parents and family carers. E-PAtS never blames or judges children, parents or family carers or tells people what they must do.
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E-PAtS provides an opportunity for parents and family carers to connect and share experiences in a supportive environment, explore evidence-based information and build on practical strategies to support their family. ​
Who can deliver E-PAtS?
E-PAtS is always delivered by a parent/ family carer and practitioner working together. All E-PAtS facilitators complete in-depth group training and assessment over a 5-day period, followed by support from trainers when delivering their first E-PAtS group. Organisations who host E-PAtS are guided in a programme implementation process and hold a non-commercial licence for E-PAtS delivery. Dr Nick Gore (Clinical Psychologist) and Professor Jill Bradshaw (Speech and Language Therapist) lead on training for E-PAtS facilitators and support for organisations.