Newsletter September 2024
Chairperson’s Statement
Now that the autumn term is well underway, we thought it was a good opportunity to bring you up to speed on the work that has taken place over the summer months and let you know of some key dates for your diaries for the rest of 2024.
Raising your voices with MP's
It has been a busy summer behind the scenes, ensuring we made the most of the Parliamentary summer recess to meet with as many Cheshire MPs as possible. So far, we’ve met with Samantha Dixon, MP for Chester North and Neston, Andrew Cooper, MP for Mid Cheshire, Esther McVey, MP for Tatton, Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port, and Mike Amesbury, MP for Runcorn. We also have additional meetings scheduled with other Cheshire MPs.
The primary focus of these meetings has been to discuss the role of the Parent Carer Forum, how it aligns with the National Network of Parent Carer Forums, and to present the findings of the PCF survey. Our aim is to explore how these insights can drive meaningful change within the borough, ensuring that families with children who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are prioritised in decision-making processes. We also raised the issue of the lack of wraparound care and holiday cover for SEND families.
SEND School provision
In 2019, Cheshire West and Chester conducted a consultation called the "High Needs Review," aimed at increasing school capacity for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the borough. Following this consultation, the council has announced a significant expansion in school places for children with SEND. This includes the approval of 93 additional resourced provision places and 32 special school places.
In response to this announcement, the Parent Carer Forum (PCF) has been working closely with the council to address your questions and concerns. Please find attached a list of these questions, along with the council’s responses below.
PCF Survey - Council's Scrutiny Process
The purpose of a council's scrutiny process is to provide oversight, accountability, and transparency in local government. It ensures that decisions made by the council and its executive are effective, efficient, and in the best interest of the community. The key purposes of the scrutiny process include:
1. Holding the executive to account
2. Improving policy and services
3. Engaging the public
4. Ensuring value for money
5. Monitoring performance
Overall, the scrutiny process acts as a check and balance within local government to improve governance and decision-making.
The Parent Carer Forum (PCF) will be representing your voices at Cheshire West and Chester's (CWaC) scrutiny process later this month. We will present findings from the recent PCF Survey, which highlights key issues around communication, compliance, and culture. In addition, we will share feedback from various focus groups we’ve held, where concerns such as the lack of wraparound care and holiday provision have been raised.
As we are all getting back into the new school term we thought it was a good opportunity to remind our audience what the role of the PCF is.
What is the Parent Carer Forum?
The Parent Carer Forum (PCF) is a voluntary representative body, working tirelessly to ensure all children with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes.
Here's what you need to know:
Our Mission: We amplify the voices of parents and carers, working independently from local authorities and health services, yet closely collaborating with them to shape and improve services.
How We Operate: We're funded by a grant from the Department for Education, which supports our development and strategic involvement. As part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums, we also influence decisions at a national level.
Our Leadership: Our Steering Group is a mix of passionate Parent and Carer volunteers, alongside professionals from Health, Education, Social Care, and more. This team ensures that your feedback reaches those who can make a difference.
#ParentCarerForumCWaC #SEND #CommunityVoice #MakingADifference
We are delighted that the results of the PCF survey are being taken seriously. The PCF have been asked to present the findings of the survey at the inaugural SEND Summit in October. The purpose of this summit will be to look at both the national and local context and consider how collectively we can work together to resolve some of the local challenges.
We will be specifically looking at the issue of communication with parents.
The audience will included SENCo's, CWaC counsellors, Governors, Head teachers, NHS staff as well as the Education team and us - the parents who have then most important voice of all!
You DO NOT need to book for this event, come along and join us for a coffee!
SAVE THE DATES....
PCF Virtual Forums via ZOOM
Wednesday 11th December 2024– Zoom
EHCP Mock Panel
How the process works and decisions are made.
Thursday 13th March 2025 – Zoom
Transitions and Pathways.
Thursday 28th November 2024 – Zoom
Parent Training.
Thank you for everyone who joined us for our AGM on the 3rd July 2024
Don't worry if you missed it, the AGM PowerPoint (PPT) presentation and Annual Report are available via the link below....
PCF BLOGS.....In order to keep you up to date on all of th workstreams we are attending to ensure that your experiences are heard we are creating a new BLOG area on our website. Take a look at our first blog about the importance of co-production.
🔄 Co-Production: Shaping the Future Together 🔄
As highlighted in our latest survey, -
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SURVEY
- our top priority is hitting the reset button on the Co-production Charter between parents and stakeholders.
Co-production is at the heart of parent carer participation. It means that parent carer forums play an integral and equal role in the decision-making process. We’re fully engaged in shaping, developing, implementing, and evaluating the services and systems that impact our children. 🌟
💡 Why Co-Production Matters
Evidence shows that partnerships built on co-production often make the best use of time and resources, all while improving outcomes for disabled children. ✅
🚀 Moving Forward Together
We’re excited to collaborate with parents and professionals to create a new Co-production Charter that meets the unique needs of Cheshire West and Chester’s families of children and young people with SEND. 🌈
Exciting News from Our PCF Rep!
We are thrilled to share a series of videos that our PCF representative has helped co-produce alongside talented young people and adults with learning disabilities, all about getting involved at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP)!
This collaborative project includes a short animation where the participants wrote the script, drew the illustrations, and even voiced the characters! It’s a fantastic example of creativity and teamwork, and everyone truly enjoyed the process.
Let’s celebrate their hard work !
#CoProduction #SENDVoices #OurVoiceMatters #LearningDisabilities #Community
Our Voice Matters is a series of videos coproduced with Young People and Adults with a Learning Disability about getting involved at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust (CWP).
- For more information on getting involved in Children and Young People’s services please contact Claire.evans71@nhs.net
- For more information on getting involved in Adult Learning Disability Services please contact l.gledhill@nhs.net
The Starting Well Service would like to hear about your experience of accessing the Service as a parent / carer.
Your feedback is anonymous and will be used to review and develop the Services on offer.
Please share your feedback using the link below. Thank you.
forms.office.com/r/VaKfkvdBZ8
Feedback form closes on 20th September 2024.
#Chester #ellesmereport #Neston #Frodsham #Northwich #Winsford #cheshirewestandchester
NHS England Learning Disability and Autism Advisory Group
The advisory group helps NHS England with work that affects people with a learning disability, autistic
people and families.
The group is made up of over 20 experts by experience which includes people with a learning disability, autistic people and family carers.
Members are used to speaking out and have lots of connections with local and national learning disability and autism groups.
Find out what the advisory group has been telling us and what we've been doing about it on You Said, We Did.
We are looking for autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers to join our advisory group
NHS England Learning Disability and Autism Programme is looking for autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers to join its advisory group.
We want members who can share their experiences of different health services and work with us to improve the health system.
We want to include members with links to groups and networks from all backgrounds and communities.
Shared on the behalf of NHSE Youth Forum and Youth Advisory Network
Incredibly exciting news! Here are the links for the NHS Youth Forum Surveys 😄
Contact’s cutting the cost survey. It’s a chance for families across the UK to have your voice heard about the financial impact of having disabled children.
The survey looks at everything from extra costs to a parent carer’s capacity to take part in paid work.
What does the survey cover?
The survey includes questions on your energy costs, the impact of unsuitable housing and your experience of getting adaptations.
There are questions on the costs of assessments, equipment and therapies. There are also questions on the extra costs of having a child out of school due to their additional needs.
USEFUL CONTACTS....
Live Well Cheshire West - www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Information Advice and Support Service (IASS) - Tel 0300 123 7001
www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/1279
SEN Team - Tel 0151 337 6505
senteam@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Starting Well - www.startingwell.org.uk/
West Cheshire 0-16 CAMHS Tel - 01244 393200
www.cwp.nhs.uk/services-and-locations/services/west-cheshire-0-16-camhs/
IPSEA- Call-in Helpline Tel- 0300 22 5899
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/service-overview
CONTACT Advice Line -Tel-0808 808 3555
https://contact.org.uk/
Get Involved with the PCF....
We are always looking for new parents and carers to join us. You can attend meetings, give feedback to influence the services your child or young person uses or help us to identify the gaps in services. Also, a chance to meet other parents and learn about what's on offer in Cheshire West & Chester.
email contact.pcfcwac@gmail.com
or join us for one of our meetings. We hope to see you soon!
Copyright © 2024 CWAC PCF, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
contact.pcfcwac@gmail.com
SEND Area Inspection – What’s Been Happening and How the Parent Carer Forum Has Represented Families
