FAMILY VOICE PETERBOROUGH

Parent Participation Framework

Background
Family voice Peterborough hereafter known as FVP came about through The Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme which was launched in May 2007. Its stated aim was to improve service provision across the board for disabled children and their families, enhancing equality and opportunity for them DCFS The Parent Participation work stream of Aiming High was designed to develop the active involvement of parents in service planning and decision making processes at a local level to ensure that parents are active agents in shaping services (quote). We were funded through a 3 year grant Programme through aiming high for disabled children which was administered by Together for Disabled Children (TDC); however the Aiming High Programme and TDC came to an end in March 2011. The current government committed to maintain a parent participation grant Programme until 2013 and we have so far been successful in being awarded the grant for 2011 2012 and currently 201-2013. A Parent Forum is defined in this instance as: a parent led organization whose primary aim is to work in partnership with the Local Authority, Health Authority and Third Sector Agencies to shape services for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs. Our Parent Forum is pan disability which means all disabilities and in line with government funding and the primary aim of parent participation cannot work with the intention of supporting an individual family to gain services for their child or support the development of a service that is intended for the needs of a specific disability which is different from some parent support groups which advocate for or lobby on behalf of individual family or a specific service. We opted after discussion and agreement to register as a charity and we were awarded charitable status on 31st March 2011 where previously we had been functioning as a Parent Forum steering group and then management committee. We now have a Board of Trustees (management committee) which incorporates the officer roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Our board currently consists of 8 Trustees. All Trustees work on an entirely voluntary basis. All of the trustees are also themselves Parents/ Carers of children and young people. We also have an open forum group of Parents and Carers who are informed and involved in the forum on various different levels. Our charity objects are; to relieve the charitable needs of disabled children and children with complex needs and their Families and Carers in Peterborough in such ways as the trustees shall think fit, in particular by the provision of advice, information, support and advocacy. As per our charity registration our remit includes; What - Education / training, disability, amateur sport. Who - children / young people, people with disabilities, other charities or voluntary bodies How - provides services, provides advocacy / advice / information, and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

FVP Policies 2012 DRAFT. 2012 by Family Voice Peterborough. All rights reserved

FAMILY VOICE PETERBOROUGH

Parent Participation Framework

FVP in no way seek to replicate the work of other third sector organizations, parents support groups or charities. FVP also do not provide individual case work or family support and always endeavor to work for parents/ carers with children with disabilities and additional needs collectively. As such FVP follow the principles set out below

Key Principles
o FVP is Pan Disability o FVP are the collective voice of parents/ carers. o FVP work on behalf of parents/ carers of children and young people with disabilities and additional needs aged between 0 to 25 years collectively. o FVP work in partnership with all other statutory and voluntary organizations. o FVP are a positive force to encourage and ensure that the local authority improves services for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs by listening to the voices of their parents/ carers. o FVP is the principle parent participation organization within Peterborough representing collectively parents/ carers of children and young people with disabilities and additional needs.

Aims
o o o o o o o o o o To influence and shape service design and development To ensure we have a collective voice for parents in Peterborough To represent the views and issues raised by a majority of parents Help groups of parents engage with professionals across Health, Education and Social Care. Facilitate participation of parents/ carers in service delivery. Hold informative events enabling many parents to become involved and or informed. Help parents and carers have access to the information about what services are available to them. Signpost parents and carers to other agencies/ organizations who provide specific services that we do not. To ensure that parents and carers have a genuine influence in the shaping of services. To raise awareness of unmet needs and ensure that parents and carers have the opportunity to raise issues and areas of concern collectively.

FVP Policies 2012 DRAFT. 2012 by Family Voice Peterborough. All rights reserved

FAMILY VOICE PETERBOROUGH

Parent Participation Framework

What we do
o Representation in strategic and operational boards FVP will ensure that parent reps who sit on boards and groups feed back to the FVP board of trustees who will then filter down the information to the wider forum in the appropriate manner. Provide notification to the appropriate person regarding which parent rep will attend the group or board. Should a designated rep be unable to attend an event/ meeting or group the appropriate contact will be notified of replacement or apologies will be sent. Make available information gathered by parent reps during feedback process. FVP expect all their representatives to show impartiality and will not bring any personal agendas to meetings. FVP will develop and facilitate a resource for sharing information relating to meetings/ conferences with parent reps, leads of other parent groups and members of FVP

o Supporting and empowering parent reps training, mentoring etc. FVP will provide all necessary support and mentoring to parent reps. FVP will either deliver in house training or procure training from outside agencies to help strengthen and develop parent participation further.

o Consultation - Collating the views and issues raised by parents and what happens next! FVP will seek to include parents in shaping of services in a variety of ways thus ensuring many parents views are incorporated FVP are mindful that not all parents wish to contribute in the same way for a variety of reasons but are fully aware all views are equally important. FVP will hold self-funded trips and activities bringing families together and thus enabling engagement in a way families are comfortable with. FVP will seek to gather majority views and bring forward issues that are relevant to groups of families. FVP will enable parents/ carers who wish to take forward the views of the collective voice of parents/ carers to become parent reps. FVP will collate any information gathered through various avenues in to reports which will then be made available to contacts within the LA, the wider forum membership of FVP and any other partner agencies/ parent groups/ organizations. FVP will hold drop-in sessions related to children at different ages FVP will facilitate Sub groups/ Working groups to discuss issues so that they can feed information in to the bigger group FVP will host up to 3 open forum meetings per annum FVP will host meetings with representatives of other parent groups to discuss a variety of issues.

FVP Policies 2012 DRAFT. 2012 by Family Voice Peterborough. All rights reserved

FAMILY VOICE PETERBOROUGH

Parent Participation Framework

o Providing and cascading information. FVP will utilize a variety of media to cascade information to all interested parties. Media used includes e.g. a website, printed newsletter and social media like Face Book. FVP will try to encourage information sharing amongst parents/families that is accurate. (Peer to peer support, information sharing is an invaluable resource) FVP will develop a glossary pertaining to language utilized in Health, Education and Social Care.

o We ask that All contact regarding any boards or strategic work will be directed to the Chair or Secretary. Who will then assign an appropriate parent representative (parent rep) Should anyone wish to have a particular parent representative attend an event, meeting or group they must contact the secretary who will see if they are available on the desired date. In order for the parent reps to be properly prepared for a meeting, event or group we require the agenda and minutes be forwarded to the secretary, where possible, at least one week in advance of said meeting, group or event. FVP will send a designated Trustee and/or Officer to attend specific meetings. Partner agencies agree not to pass out any FVP documentation without prior written agreement.

Working Practices
o FVP have a clear complaints and disciplinary procedures and request that these be adhered to and will make this information available to all necessary parties. o Documentation which parent reps have to agree to and sign is available for perusal as part of FVPs resource pack. o FVP respect the need for confidential discussion and as such will support any designated rep involved in any such discussion and will adhere to any confidentiality agreement over and above FVPs confidentiality agreement. o Should any parent rep behave in an inappropriate manner FVP expect to be notified so that the matter can be addressed quickly and if necessary appropriate measures can be taken. o All Parties are asked that they direct anyone who has an issue with FVP or its Volunteers/ Trustees to FVP itself who will address their particular issue. o We ask that partner agencies agree not to put parent representatives in any unnecessary untenable situation regarding sharing of minutes and confidential information. Should parent reps be required to be involved in such discussions we ask that you notify the Chair or Secretary prior to or within 48 hours of said meeting. o Partner agencies should be aware that FVP cannot take on individual case work.

FVP Policies 2012 DRAFT. 2012 by Family Voice Peterborough. All rights reserved

FAMILY VOICE PETERBOROUGH

Parent Participation Framework

Questions for consultation

Do you agree with the proposed ideas under the sections what we do and work practices in this framework?

Do you think this draft framework demonstrates clearly what is expected from Family Voice Peterborough?

FVP Policies 2012 DRAFT. 2012 by Family Voice Peterborough. All rights reserved

FAMILY VOICE PETERBOROUGH

Parent Participation Framework

What would you like to see included in this framework?

Any further comments

FVP Policies 2012 DRAFT. 2012 by Family Voice Peterborough. All rights reserved