A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial of a Behavioural Science Toolkit to promote Engagement by socially deprived families in local authority delivered or commissioned parenting programmes suitable for school-age children (4-18 years)
Low engagement (uptake and retention) in parenting programmes among socially deprived families
A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial comparing uptake and retention of parenting programmes suitable for school-age children in LAs during ‘business as usual’ control periods and BeST Engage Toolkit use intervention periods. LAs will be recruited and randomised to one of three sequences that will determine the time of introduction and use of the BeST Engage toolkit. Statistical analyses will examine differences in outcomes between control and intervention periods to determine whether the BeST Engage toolkit is effective in increasing uptake and retention of parenting programmes by socially deprived families. Local Authorities (LAs) are the unit of randomisation. The primary outcome is the number of parents from areas of high deprivation who attend/complete at least one session of the parenting programme. The stepped wedge design means that all LAs are their own control and will gain access to the BeST Engage toolkit over the course of the study, incentivising participation. Different LAs will be randomised to three different sequences and will start to use BeST Engage at different times. LAs will be allocated to the 3 sequences in a 1:1:1 ratio. Allocations will be stratified according to average IDACI scores for each LA (<0.330 or >=0.330) and percentage of White-British citizens (<85.6% or >=85.6%) for each LA. The BeST Engage intervention is a toolkit consisting of behavioural science informed content to enable LAs to develop: 1. Parent-facing resources: Content and design briefs to develop letters, leaflets, posters, social media to address capability, opportunity and motivation 1.1. Image guidance 1.2. Text guidance 1.3. QR code/link to translated versions in key languages 2. Professional-facing resources: Training guide to address capability, opportunity and motivation Checklist to evaluate the ease of access to the parenting programme with suggestions for how to make improvements (e.g., opt-out appointments) 3. Video (for both parents and
Note that these inclusion criteria relate to the eligibility of local authorities (sites) to take part in the trial. The study does not require direct recruitment of participants. 1. Local Authorities in England delivering specified parenting programmes 2. Parents eligible for free parenting programmes suitable for children aged 4-18 years 3. Families in areas of high deprivation (top 30% Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index [IDACI])
Note that these exclusion criteria relate to the eligibility of local authorities (sites) to take part in the trial. The study does not require direct recruitment of participants. 1. Local Authorities not offering specified parenting programmes 2. Local Authorities unable to provide required anonymised data