Reducing Parental Conflict: Information & Resources for Professionals 

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We want people in Barnsley to enjoy life in good physical and mental health and have access to the right support at the right time.

If you work with families in Barnsley, you may have encountered families affected by parental conflict.

Supporting parenting or carers to build strong relationships, whether together or separated, is crucial to ensuring children have the right environment to be able to thrive.

Some level of arguing or conflict between parents or carers is often part of normal, everyday life but when the conflict becomes frequent, intense and poorly resolved, it can negatively impact children’s mental health and long-term outcomes.

• Harmful parental conflict can include:
  
• Aggression
  
• Silence
  
• Lack of respect
  
• Passing the blame
  
• Lack of resolution
  

Harmful parental conflict and domestic abuse are different things. It’s important not to undertake interventions to support parental conflict if domestic abuse is also a factor in the relationship.

Contact aimeeglarvey@barnsley.gov.uk for a copy of the Relationship Distress Traffic Light Triage tool and questions to help you distinguish between harmful parental conflict and domestic abuse.

If you are still unsure, speak to your manager or call on IDAS 03000 110 110 (Barnsley) or their 24 hour national helpline 0808 2000 247.

Children and young people can be impacted in the following ways

• Mental health problems (increased anxiety or depression)
  
• Physical health problems (stomach aches, tiredness, headaches)
  
• Sleeping issues
  
• Lower academic outcomes
  
• Troubled peer relationships
  
• Increase in risky behaviours
  
• Conduct problems (anti-social behaviour, aggression)
  
• Lower employability