Meet Julia
“I firmly believe that every parent is their child’s expert; no one knows their child better than a parent.”
Julia McDonald
Parent & Family Support Specialist
Hello, I’m Julia and I am one of the Parent & Family Support Specialists in the Now, Next and Then team. I have always felt very privileged to work alongside parents and their children, because of the trust they have placed in me to support them through a challenging time. As a parent myself, I understand that sometimes it is hard to 'see the woods for the trees’, so having a supportive space to reflect can be really helpful when we feel stuck. I am committed to recognising the child and parent’s strengths and working out together, ways to overcome or manage the challenges they may be experiencing.
Like my colleagues in the NNT team, I wholeheartedly believe in a ‘person-centred approach’, as this not only leads to finding more effective ways forward, but gives the child, parent (or grandparent) a sense of ownership of the solutions. I firmly believe that when a child or adult is struggling, what helps them is to be given the time, space and tailored support to develop the solutions that will work for them. This approach leads to greater feelings of resilience and self-efficacy. The starting point is always seeing the potential in each person, and it is so rewarding when they then see that in themselves too. There is a strong evidence base for working in this way, which I learnt more about when I trained as a trainer in the Family Partnership Model (Guy’s Hospital). The most positive results come from a partnership approach, combining the insights and expertise of parents, children and practitioner.
“Mrs McDonald believed in me right from the start, and it made me feel that I could deal with whatever happened.”
• 9 year old child •
I have worked with children and parents for 40 years, always with a passion for finding new and more effective strategies to support children and their families. I have worked in specialist and mainstream schools and children’s centres, working with children from birth to 15, focussing on special educational needs and pastoral support. I have worked with a range of other professionals, including Educational Psychologists and Occupational Therapists, and have set up programs to support children’s transition into school. I am trained in Thrive and have undertaken extensive training in children’s social, emotional and mental health needs across all age ranges. I am excited to be part of the Now, Next and Then team, learning from my colleagues and sharing a passion for making a positive difference to children and their families.
Aside from work, I enjoy travel, dog walking and painting the sea (and occasionally trying a cold dip). I also like doing up houses, particularly knocking down walls. I have two grown up sons who seem to share my love of world cuisine, although, when they were younger, I didn’t think that was ever going to happen.
“The support Julia gave our family made a huge difference, not just in a practical way, but it helped us feel we could really move forward.”
• Grandparent •
“I feel safe at school because people like Mrs McDonald care about me.”
• 10 year old child •