News and media releases from the Surrey Heartlands area
If you have some news to share, would like to see us feature a patient story or simply have a question, then feel free to get in touch with us.
Surrey families get new parenting support service
Parents and carers in Surrey who are finding it difficult to manage challenging behaviour in their little ones now have a new place to turn, thanks to the Surrey Paediatric Parenting Support Service (SPPSS).
Made possible with funding from the Mental Health Investment Fund, this service is here to help families with children aged 0-5, offering both face-to-face and online support.
The service is designed to support parents and carers who may be wondering if their young child is neurodivergent, for example, showing traits of ADHD or autism.
You don’t need a diagnosis to access the service, and getting help doesn’t mean your child will necessarily go on to be diagnosed. Instead, SPPSS helps families understand their child’s development and explore strategies for managing emotions, behaviour, and routines.
SPPSS knows that raising a family can sometimes feel overwhelming, so they aim to make things as easy as possible for parents and carers. They offer workshops and groups to learn about child development, emotional regulation, and how to support children at home and in childcare settings.
Families can choose between online or in-person sessions, and they’re welcome to switch if they change their mind. Parents who need help filling in a referral form—perhaps due to limited English or computer skills—can complete it over the phone with a friendly team member.
The service also helps families with more than one child by welcoming babies and siblings to sessions, so parents don’t have to worry about arranging extra childcare.
Parents start with a 'discovery call', which is an informal chat to decide what kind of support they need. From there, they might join a 6-week online group or a shorter 3-week in-person group at one of the eight Barnardo’s family centres across Surrey. Practitioners work closely with families, offering tools and strategies to make day-to-day life smoother and help children feel safe, happy, and healthy.
Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership said:
Thanks to funding from the Mental Health Investment Fund, this fantastic new service is empowering families across Surrey with the tools and confidence they need to help their children thrive.
Mark Nuti, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Public Health said:
It's great to see that funding from the Mental Health Investment Fund is helping families in a flexible way that suits them and improves their day-to-day life when they can feel overwhelmed.