National Network of Parent Carer Forums ‘Our Strength is our Shared Experience’ Parent Carer Participation and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms

FamilyHealthSocial CareCommunityEducation Parent carers -Who and Why? ?

A Bit of History ‘ Aiming High’ came with a new impetus to focus on partnership working between Parent Carers and the Statutory Authorities Parent Carer Forums started up across England and were funded directly by DfE Supported Contact a Family Short Breaks were initially the key focus In 2010 SEND Green Paper brings new opportunities 2011 NNPCF established

The National Network of Parent Carer Forums Member Forums open to all parent carers of children and YP 0-25 yrs Organised in regional areas with a national Steering Group Pan-disability, across all sectors of the community, working on issues across all relevant service boundaries

How the NNPCF Works A consultation and consensus network Peer to Peer support Information sharing Sharing good practice Ensuring the voice of Parent Carers are heard Linking with local, regional and national organisations

The NNPCF Steering Group Ha s ten members, one from each region (London two) Provides a national focus for parent participation Aims to model and grow participation at all levels Supports the Network to respond to national agendas Has termly meetings with membership of local PCF Regular communication bulletins to local PCFs NNPCF West Midlands North WestNorth East Yorkshire and Humbersid e East Midlands East of England South EastSouth WestLondon

Parent Carer Forums Offer; An opportunity to work positively with the local parent carer community An insight to what life is like for families who care for children and young people with a disability or additional need An opportunity to understand what works and what doesn’t work for families A chance to co produce solutions with parent carers ‘Welcome to my world’

The SEND Reforms

Key Principles of the SEND Reforms Placing young people and parent carers at the centre of decision making – individually and at a strategic level Providing information and support to enable young people and parent carers to participate in decision making Focusing on outcomes and preparing for adulthood Services working together to deliver holistic support

The SEND Reforms and Health Services From September 2014 CCGs must; Commission services jointly for children and young people (up to age 25) with SEND, including those with Education Health and Care (EHC) plans Work with the local authority to contribute to the Local Offer of services available Have mechanisms in place to ensure practitioners and clinicians will support the Integrated EHC needs assessment process Agree Personal Budgets where they are provided for those with EHC plans 0-25 SEND Code of Practice: A Guide for Health Professionals 645/Health_professionals_guide_to_the_SEND_code_of_practice_-_Sept14.pdf

Health Services Working with Parent Carers and Young people Can lead to a better fit between families’ needs and the services provided Parent carer forums established in most local areas and many already working with the local authority on implementing the SEND reforms. They can help health identify shortfalls in health services and work with you to find solutions Sharing Good practice in Health Settings

CAF Health and SEND Project 12 month project funded by DfE to support CCG’s and Health practitioners and clinicians to work with Parent Carer Forums to implement the SEND Reforms 9 pilot areas throughout England to identify and develop best practice around partnership working between health decision makers and local parent carer forums Share best practice with all areas Develop resources for Health practitioners / clinicians and CCG’s to support their role in the new SEND system

For More Information Maureen MorrisSarah Thomas Co – ChairHealth Manager NNPCFContact a Family