SE7 SEND Pathfinder Regional Framework for Participation of Parent Carers We believe that raising aspirations for all

children should begin early in life and throughout transitions, and that children and young people, parent carers, statutory and voluntary sector personnel can together enable all children and young people to reach core outcomes. In SE7 we agreed three core outcomes for all children and young people, including those with SEND and these were:

Children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families are at the heart of the SE7 person centred approach to service reform across all sectors. We value and actively seek the range of family members perspectives, experiences and aspirations. These together contribute broader insights and opportunities for creative solution finding with families. We use the SE7 regional frameworks for participation to model and facilitate meaningful co-production with parent carers and children and young people. Parent Carers1 are central to, and key partners in, the SE7 SEND Pathfinder activity which 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 shaping and delivering services for families of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Effective parent participation happens when parents have conversations with and work alongside professionals in order to design, develop and improve services.

The 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 and other family members.

SE7 Parent Carer Participation Framework

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In SE7 we are committed to building good practice in Parent Carer Participation as set out in the briefing document Markers of good practice in building parent carer participation distributed by the Department of Education in September 2011 to support SEND and Pathfinder activity. Specialist support from Contact a Family together with the National Network of Parent Carer Forums are part of the provision to assist Pathfinders to deliver this partnership working. We recognise that Parent Carer Forums are the main route for engaging with local parent carers, with additional involvement of other parent carer groups, individuals and community and voluntary sector organisations. Parent Participation is specifically working with a forum of trained and accountable parent carers supported by good governance procedures and well linked to other local groups and the wider parent carer 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 the Pathfinder and our progress in SE7. Local areas are proactive in their communication with parent carers, especially those directly involved in the Pathfinder activity. Written information will be in plain language and as jargon free as possible and appropriate 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 of consultations 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 influence parent 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, training will be provided to support this. Parent carers will be supported to contributing actively and positively in the SE7 Pathfinder and also to challenge appropriately. Local Change Boards and the Regional Steering Group will include parent carer representatives as full and equal members of the group.

SE7 Parent Carer Participation Framework

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The Parent Carer Forums will: Assist the local areas and the region to involve a wide range of parent carers and parent carer networks. 4. Co-production Co production happens when all team members together co-produce recommendations, plans, actions and materials as a collective. This process develops over time, blends a range of expertise and perspectives, is driven by a solution focussed approach from all participants and requires strong leadership. Communication that is transparent and open, relationships that are equitable and respectful help the team overcome complex challenges and continue the process of learning 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 carers will 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 SE7 Statement relating to one regional policy to remunerate parent representatives involved in regional work (that is the two representatives to the Regional Steering Group, and two named representatives per forum who meet regularly as part of the SE7 Pathfinder Parent Carer Group). Terms of Reference have been agreed and this group meets approximately every other month, alternating with the National Network Regional meetings. b. Local Change Board it is expected that a similar locally agreed policy will facilitate the payment of local parent forum representatives involved in the Local Change Boards for the lifetime of the Pathfinder. c. Each local parent carer forum is expected to be centrally involved in consulting with a wider range of parent carers and with co-production of local delivery plans and contribute to their implementation. This Pathfinder activity is additional to that supported by the standard Participation Grant made directly to forums, and so needs to be funded by agreement within local resources.

SE7 Parent Carer Participation Framework

v2 April 2013