Parent carer participation is when parents and professionals work together, recognising each other’s expert knowledge, to make informed decisions about children’s services that make the best use of people’s time and money.
You may be aware that for the last year the Parent Carer Forum has not been as active or representative as in the past. They plan to work with parents in Oxfordshire to set up a new Forum to represent the views and aspirations of families of disabled children by working in partnership with the Local Authority, Health and other providers to ensure that services are providing the best possible resources for the children and young people to lead happy, active and fulfilling lives.
There is a Parent Carer Forum in each local Authority across England and all are members of the NNPCF (National Network of Parent Carer Forums). In all they have over 80,000 members. Contact (previously Contact a Family) administers the DfE grant to each forum and provides support and information though the Participation Officers, based in each region.
Would you like to be involved in this? There is a role for everyone whether as a representative working with the professionals, helping organise the Committee, planning events and meetings, publicising the work of the forum, welcoming and encouraging others – or just being a voice!
Miranda Parrott is working as an Associate for Contact to get the new Forum up and running. Please contact her on 07539 540461 or Miranda.Parrott@contact.org.uk – you can also leave a message on her landline 01580240554.