GET INVOLVED Find out more about how you can support Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire
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contents 2. WHAT IS PARENT CARER PARTICIPATION 3. WHY GET INVOLVED? 4. BENEFITS OF BEING INVOLVED 5. BENEFITS OF BEING INVOLVED cont. AND WHAT OTHERS SAY 6. WAYS TO BE INVOLVED 7. THE STEERING GROUP 8. STEERING GROUP ROLES 9. PARENT CARER REPRESENTATIVES 10. VOLUNTEERS 11. WHAT NOW 12. USEFUL LINKS
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WHAT IS A PARENT CARER FORUM? Parent carers can often pinpoint problems frequently experienced by families with disabled children. This knowledge is useful to professionals as they plan services to meet disabled children’s needs. Parent carer participation is when parents and professionals work together, recognising each other’s expert knowledge, to design, develop and improve services for disabled children in the local area. The way parent carers can work with professionals is by forming groups called parent carer forums. There is a national network of parent carer forums throughout the UK and these are funded and supported by the Department for Education (DfE). The funding is coordinated and distributed by Contact a charity for families with children and young people with SEND.
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WHY GET INVOLVED? With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends with similar interests, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness. What you bring is enough.
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BENEFITS OF GETTING INVOLVED For some getting involved has social benefits. These include: Meeting new people and making new friends A chance to socialise Getting to know others in a similar situation and supporting each other Getting to know the local community For others they get involved to Give something back to the forum that has impacted on their life, either directly or indirectly Make a difference to the lives of others Help others less fortunate or without a voice Feel valued and be an equal part of our team Spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle Gain confidence and self-esteem
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BENEFITS OF GETTING INVOLVED it can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new for many people which may lead them back into work when they are able or to a career change through Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience Developing existing skills and knowledge Enhancing a CV Improving one's employment prospects Gaining an accreditation Using one's professional skill's and knowledge to benefit others (usually described as pro bono)
what others say about being involved "With the support and encouragement of the forum I have grown in confidence, knowledge, experience & skill’s. I feel that while caring and advocating for my children with SEND is always my highest priority in my home life, being involved has helped me rediscover me and has lifted my confidence in my own abilities to support other parent carers and work alongside them to improve services for families."
"Being involved with the parent carer forum has helped me to meet and support other parent/carers with children with SEND who have lived similar experiences to me. It gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences and learn new things. It makes me feel valuable and worthwhile."
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WAYS TO BE INVOLVED Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire (PCV) value any time you are able to commit. Some of the many ways you can get involved are listed in the next few pages of the booklet. If you are a parent carer, a foster carer, a grandparent carer, a legal guardian and you live in North Yorkshire with a child/young person aged 0-25 with SEND you will need to join PCV. You can do this by visiting our website at www.parentcarervoiceuk.org/joinus and fill in a membership form. If you would like a hard copy form please contact using the details on page 11. If you are not a parent carer you can still get involved, we are happy for people who have worked in SEND services and have a passion to help improve services to volunteer and support us. If this applies to you please email us for more information about how to volunteer and what roles are available. You can also join our mailing list sign up form which can be found at the bottom of website and visiting the join us page
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WHAT IS THE STEERING GROUP? The role of PCV's Steering Group is to help shape the direction of the forum and the work it undertakes. Our group meets once a month to review the work plan, organise events and information sessions, and set future objectives with the support of our paid co-ordinator. We hold meetings both centrally in York and virtually via Zoom and alternate between day and evening meetings to help as many people to attend as possible. Our parent steering group members also act as parent representatives attending meetings and events with the Local Authority, Health and other partner organisations to ensure the collective voice of parent carers is represented in decision making around children/young people with SEND and the services they receive.
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STEERING GROUP ROLES Parent/Carer Member - This role applies to any parent/foster parent/legal guardian or legal carer of a child/young person (0-25years) with SEND. This role is a vote holding role. Co-Opted Member - This role applies to others who are not described as parent carer members but who have young adults 25 years and above with SEND or have worked or supported children/young people with SEND and wish to share their knowledge and skills to support PCV. This is a vote holding role. Associate Members - This role applies to members from the voluntary or professional sector who work with children/young people with SEND and their families and share their knowledge and skills with the steering group to ensure all aspects of SEND are considered when making decisions. i.e SENDIASS, Carer's Resource. This is a non-vote holding role.
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PARENT/CARER REPRESENTATIVES The role of parent/carer representatives (reps), is to inform decision-makers about the experiences of parents and to ensure that parent/carers’ views are fed into decisions about children/young people's services at a strategic level. Through this process, parents and professionals reach a common understanding about effective services for children/young people with SEND. Their combined information and perspectives result in joint planning that leads to more effective services. Parent carer representatives can do many different roles within the forum. Some of the ways in which you can represent PCV are listed below Organising and running coffee and chat sessions in your local area Organising and running information and training sessions in your local area Representing PCV by working with your local area SEND Hub and Health services Representing PCV at a strategic level with Local Authority and Health leaders Running PCV social media accounts, website.
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VOLUNTEERS This role applies to people who have a passion for and understanding of SEND and who have some time and skills they wish to share to help support and develop the work of PCV. These may be people who have previously worked with children/young people with SEND and their families, they may have retired or they may have a specific skill set that they wish to use to support PCV. Some of the areas where PCV need support with specific skills are in Fundraising & Bid Writing Publicity and Marketing including our social media and website Peer Support Running Events Administrative & Financial Work These are just a few areas in which we need support however, there are other skills you may have which you wish to offer your time to share with us. Any support for PCV is always greatly received and we are happy to discuss how anyone interested can help support us.
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WHAT NOW? If you are interested in any of the roles mentioned in this booklet, or just want to talk through what we do and how you can join or support us there are many ways to get in touch and find out more. Telephone: 07396 641232 EMAIL: info@parentcarervoiceuk.org WEBSITE: www.parentcarervoiceuk.org FACEBOOK PAGE: @Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire FACEBOOK CLOSED MEMBERS FORUM: @Parent Carer Voice North Yorkshire Forum YOUTUBE: Parent Carer Voice - North Yorkshire
USEFUL LINKS
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PARENT CARER VOICE (NORTH YORKSHIRE):
Our website which includes information about what we do, who we are, our events and useful information for parent/carers in North Yorkshire (www.parentcarervoiceuk.org)
SEND LOCAL OFFER (NYCC): North Yorkshire County Council’s dedicated hub for up-to-date regional SEND information, advice and offers (www.northyorks.gov.uk/sendlocal-offer).
NORTH YORKSHIRE CCG: North Yorkshire CCG’s website which has useful information on services, pathways and resources. (www.northyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/your-healthand-local-services/children-and-young-people/).
VALE OF YORK CCG: North Yorkshire CCG’s website which has useful information on services, pathways and resources. (www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/your-health-andlocal-services/disabilities-and-send/)
SENDIASS NORTH YORKSHIRE: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service. Confidential information and support for young adults with SEND and parents of children with SEND living in North Yorkshire (www.sendiassnorthyorkshire.co.uk).
CONTACT: The charity for families with disabled children, providing guidance and support to improve life for themselves and others (www.contact.org.uk)