What is a Parent Support Advisor?

A Parent Support Advisor (PSA) works with families to help them navigate school-related challenges, build positive relationships with education providers, and access the support they need. They often work within schools or local authorities, acting as a link between home and school, especially where children are struggling to attend or engage.

They focus on supporting parents with understanding their child’s needs and advocating for helpful responses from the systems around them.

A parent support advisor told us about their role. Here is what they said:

Parent Support Advisors typically:

• Work directly with families whose children are struggling in school (e.g. attendance, behaviour, anxiety).
• Provide emotional support to parents and carers.
• Attend meetings and help families prepare for them (e.g. EHCP reviews, Team Around the Child).
• Support with referrals to other services.
• Offer early intervention and signposting to avoid escalation.

They listen without judgment and help families feel seen and supported.

Parent Support Advisors may have a range of backgrounds, including:

• Education, social care, or family work.
• Relevant diplomas or qualifications in child development, mental health, or SEN.

They often complete additional training in:

• Autism, ADHD, and PDA.
• Family dynamics and communication.
• Trauma-informed practice.

Their experience is often rooted in both formal training and years of practical, hands-on support.

A PSA can:

• Help parents understand their child’s PDA profile.
• Advocate for demand-sensitive approaches in school.
• Offer emotional support during times of crisis or exclusion.
• Help navigate EHCPs, referrals, and school communication.

They are often among the first people to suggest that behaviour may be rooted in anxiety rather than defiance.

PSAs who work well with PDAers and their families tend to:

• Listen without judgement, creating a safe space for parents to speak freely.
• Help reframe behaviour as communication and reduce blame.
• Support schools to adapt expectations, reduce demands, and increase flexibility.
• Empower parents to advocate without fear of being dismissed or blamed.
• Connect families with trusted resources, including PDA-informed professionals.
• Work at the family’s pace, avoiding pressure and prioritising trust.

They are often vital allies in helping reduce misunderstanding and isolation.

The parent support advisor we spoke to told us that for families of PDAers, PSAs can:

• Offer a calm, empathetic voice when things feel overwhelming.
• Help translate between family and school systems.
• Empower parents to ask for what their child needs.
• Reduce feelings of shame, blame, or being alone.

PDAers and their families often tell us how confusing and unsettling it can be to meet new professionals – especially when it’s not clear what their job is or what good support looks like. That’s why we asked professionals themselves to tell us, in their own words, what they do. You’ll find their honest, personal answers in the ‘What professionals do’ section of our site.

This is a growing resource, so if you don’t see the role you’re looking for yet, you could ask the person you’re working with to fill in this short form.

Please note: these insights come from individual professionals, not official organisations, so you might find some variation in how people describe their roles. If you’re wondering whether a service you’ve been offered is the right fit, our guides to finding helpful support can help.