Helping local authorities to help parents: the BeST Engage Project

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)

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN76333739

Enrollment

Registered

2026-05-20

Start date

2026-05-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-07-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Low engagement (uptake and retention) in parenting programmes among socially deprived families Other

Interventions

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 E

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

0 Years to 100 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 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])

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Uptake of parenting programmes: attendance at =1 session measured using anonymised routinely collected data at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Retention in parenting programmes: the proportion of sessions offered that are attended, measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence;Number of sessions attended, measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence;Uptake, retention and session attendance by subgroup (ethnicity, age <25, LGBTQ+): attendance at =1 session, proportion of sessions offered that are attended and number of sessions attended, stratified by participant subgroup (ethnicity, age <25 years, and LGBTQ+ status), measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence;Referral method: self vs professional referral, measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence	—

Measure

Time frame

Retention in parenting programmes: the proportion of sessions offered that are attended, measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence;Number of sessions attended, measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence;Uptake, retention and session attendance by subgroup (ethnicity, age <25, LGBTQ+): attendance at =1 session, proportion of sessions offered that are attended and number of sessions attended, stratified by participant subgroup (ethnicity, age <25 years, and LGBTQ+ status), measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence;Referral method: self vs professional referral, measured using anonymised Local Authority (LA) administrative data submitted to a secure database using the study Excel template, at control period (varies in length from 3-9 months); intervention period (varies in length from 3-9 months); follow-up period (7 months); variations are a function of sequence

—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactElaine Clarke

bestengage@shu.ac.uk+44 (0)114 2252612

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jul 23, 2026