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SE7 Parent Carer Participation Framework v2 April 20131

SE7 SEND Pathfinder

Regional Framework for Participation of Parent Carers

We believe that raising aspirations for all children should begin early in life andthroughout transitions, and that children and young people, parent carers, statutoryand voluntary sector personnel can together enable all children and young people toreach core outcomes. In SE7 we agreed three core outcomes for all children andyoung people, including those with SEND and these were:

Children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities andtheir families are at the heart of the SE7 person centred approach to service reformacross all sectors. We value and actively seek the range of family membersperspectives, experiences and aspirations. These together contribute broader

insights and opportunities for creative solution finding with families. We use the SE7regional frameworks for participation to model and facilitate meaningful co-productionwith parent carers and children and young people.

Parent Carers1 are central to, and key partners in, the SE7 SEND Pathfinder activitywhich is a learning process for all parties.

This means that we will ensure that: We provide timely and impartial information in a range of formats We support parent carers to participate effectively throughout in the

Pathfinder programme Parent carers are involved in meaningful participation in decision-making,

consultation and reviews

Parent Carer Participation definition:

A partnership process where parent carers are valued members of a team shapingand delivering services for families of children and young people with specialeducational needs and/or disabilities. Effective parent participation happens whenparents have conversations with and work alongside professionals in order to design,develop and improve services.

1The term Parent Carer means any person with parental responsibility for a child or young person with special

educational needs or disability. It is an inclusive term and covers for instance foster carers, adoptive parents andother family members.

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SE7 Parent Carer Participation Framework v2 April 20132

In SE7 we are committed to building good practice in Parent Carer Participation asset out in the briefing document Markers of good practice in building parent carerparticipation distributed by the Department of Education in September 2011 tosupport SEND and Pathfinder activity. Specialist support from Contact a Familytogether with the National Network of Parent Carer Forums are part of the provisionto assist Pathfinders to deliver this partnership working.

We recognise that Parent Carer Forums are the main route for engaging with localparent carers, with additional involvement of other parent carer groups, individualsand community and voluntary sector organisations. Parent Participation is specificallyworking with a forum of trained and accountable parent carers supported by goodgovernance procedures and well linked to other local groups and the wider parentcarer community.

General principles of working with parent carers throughout

1. Information:

We will ensure that: Information about the SE7 SEND Pathfinder is widely available.

In local areas there is regular clear communication with parent carers about thePathfinder and our progress in SE7.

Local areas are proactive in their communication with parent carers, especiallythose directly involved in the Pathfinder activity.

Written information will be in plain language and as jargon free as possible andappropriate to the audience.

Information will be available in paper and electronic formats.

The Parent Carer Forums will: Assist the local areas in ensuring wide communication with a range of parent

carers and parent carer groups/networks. Be involved in developing information material and advise on clarity and

appropriateness of content.

2. Consultation:We will:-

Offer a variety of approaches within an agreed framework eg questionnaires,focus groups, larger events, attending existing groups.

Local areas will provide feedback to parent carers on the outcomes ofconsultations

The Parent Carer Forums will: Assist the local areas in planning and undertaking pathfinder consultations.

Consultations will identify the process, the timescale and the range of influenceparent carers can have.

3. Participation:We will:- Support parent carers to participate fully. This will include ensuring that they are

knowledgeable, supported, welcomed and respected. Where appropriate, trainingwill be provided to support this.

Parent carers will be supported to contributing actively and positively in the SE7Pathfinder and also to challenge appropriately.

Local Change Boards and the Regional Steering Group will include parent carerrepresentatives as full and equal members of the group.

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SE7 Parent Carer Participation Framework v2 April 20133

The Parent Carer Forums will:-

Assist the local areas and the region to involve a wide range of parent carers andparent carer networks.

4. Co-productionCo production happens when all team members together co-producerecommendations, plans, actions and materials as a collective. This processdevelops over time, blends a range of expertise and perspectives, is driven by asolution focussed approach from all participants and requires strong leadership.Communication that is transparent and open, relationships that are equitable andrespectful help the team overcome complex challenges and continue the process oflearning together.

General Practicalities

Meetings will be held at convenient times to allow parent carers to participate.

Meetings will have clear terms of reference. Meetings will have clear agendas which are distributed with the appropriate

papers in sufficient time for parent carers to be able to read and digest them.

Papers will be written in plain English. Abbreviations and jargon will be avoided or, if necessarily included, they will be

explained. Notes of meetings will be clear with action points and agreements identified.

They will be distributed as soon as possible after the meeting. Parent carers will abide by confidentiality agreements in the same way as staff

members are required to do. Appointments to posts specifically for the Pathfinder will involve parent carers in

the full appointment process including shortlisting and interviews. Parent carerswill be full and equal members of the appointment panels.

Expenses will be reimbursed according to the relevant policy regional or local. Recompense for their contribution will be made to parent carers according to the

regional statement or local policy as appropriate.

Payment for parent forum activity

a. The SE7 Pathfinder Regional Steering Group have agreed to deploy the SE7Statement relating to one regional policy to remunerate parent representativesinvolved in regional work (that is the two representatives to the Regional SteeringGroup, and two named representatives per forum who meet regularly as part of

the SE7 Pathfinder Parent Carer Group). Terms of Reference have been agreedand this group meets approximately every other month, alternating with theNational Network Regional meetings.

b. Local Change Board it is expected that a similar locally agreed policy willfacilitate the payment of local parent forum representatives involved in the LocalChange Boards for the lifetime of the Pathfinder.

c. Each local parent carer forum is expected to be centrally involved in consultingwith a wider range of parent carers and with co-production of local delivery plansand contribute to their implementation. This Pathfinder activity is additional to thatsupported by the standard Participation Grant made directly to forums, and so

needs to be funded by agreement within local resources.