Local Authority - how to engage with them?

Hello there,

We work on the Parent Participation project at TreeHouse which involves working with four local authority areas (Haringey, Brighton & Hove, Telford & Wrekin and South Tyneside) to help parent carers and professionals work together to ensure better services for children with disabilities.

Your comment about not feeling listened to and understood is something that we have heard from parents throughout the country. However it does not have to stay this way! Local authorities are encouraged through Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) to involve parents in local level strategic decisions about the provision their children need and most local authorities recognise that involving parents and carers is key to developing appropriate and accessible services.
That said some local authorities have some way to go before parent participation is recognised for the important asset that it is.

It can be even more difficult feeling like a lone voice; we would encourage you to find a local parent group to help your voice be heard and gain support from other parents.

The parent groups that we are working with in our parent participation project are all at different stages with their involvement with the local authority. Some are sitting on steering groups with local authority members and having input into services such as short breaks, some are starting to sit on interview panels to support the recruiting of suitable staff where others are training staff in the best way to work with their children.

You can chat to other parents about their experiences and ideas around engaging with the local authority at our Parents Participate forum.

We have held a number of events for parents, carers and professionals, such as a Media workshop and an Influencing workshop, which you can read more about on our website.

You can find out more about the project by clicking Parent Participation Project or emailing PPP@treehouse.org.uk.

If you would like to let us know via email which local authority area you are in, we can do our best to signpost you to a parent group local to you.

Kind regards,

The Parent Participation Project Team

I would suggest you network with other parents and parents groups who have done or are doing this successfully. TreeHouse is currently supporting 10 parents groups across the UK to do just this – (Oldham Education Campaign Consortium is one of them). 

You can find out more about what each of these groups has achieved at:
http://www.treehouse.org.uk/treehouse-services/development-and-policy/pa...
There is also an internet yahoo group for parents of children with disabilities who are campaigning to improve services and facilities at a local level: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDCM_campaigners/

You might want to get together with other parents locally who want to achieve the same objectives as you.  Parents Forums are being developed in many local authorities now – there may be one starting up in your area.  You could find out more about this at: http://www.togetherfdc.org/Topics/ParentalParticipation.aspx.

Also there are TDC Parent Participation Advisors in each England region: http://www.togetherfdc.org/SupportDocuments/Grant%20programme%20launch.p... who may be able to help you connect up with other parents locally.

Good luck

Zoe
Chair Oldham Education Campaign Consortium

Get involved in Aiming High for Disabled Children or contact your local Parent Partnership Officer.

Linda Dickinson, Redcar & Cleveland