The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria commissions Restorative Solutions to deliver Step Up, a programme to address adolescent to parent/carer violence.

Step Up is an innovative and dynamic programme of support help families who are experiencing child to ‘parent’ violence in the home. The programme embeds enhanced communication skills, Cognitive behavioural Therapy and restorative approaches and aims to build resilience within families; supporting each member to break cycles of abuse and become accountable for their own behaviours by learning and practicing effective communication skills to de-escalate situations.  

The  initial pilot was commissioned by Cumbria OPCC in 2015, and externally evaluated by the Brathay Trust.   

Families attended voluntarily following referral by statutory services or self-referral.  Each programme ran for between 14-21 weeks as weekly 2 hour sessions where families were worked with as a unit, in young people and parent groups or on a one to one as needs dictated. Parental rationales for joining the groups included ‘I just want my child back’, ‘this has to stop now, I need help’. 

In early 2020, in response to the pandemic, the programme was developed into remote delivery, using phone and video conferencing with individual families. From July 2022 delivery is now a hybrid model with face to face and remote sessions available to families.

To find out more contact

Jane Wignall, Service Manager Step Up Cumbria

Email: JaneWignall@restorativesolutions.org.uk