Chairperson’s Statement

It has been a challenging year, with many of our parent volunteers facing personal difficulties due to a flawed SEND system. Nonetheless, we are striving to effect change so future parents don't face the same issues. We've continued to amplify the voices of Parent Carers in Cheshire West. Our Parent Carer Forum (PCF) has grown by 15%, now reaching 700 members, mainly through our bi-annual survey and increased social media presence.
Despite challenges, we met our Action Plan commitments from last year's AGM report. We conducted three in-person forums attended by over 160 families, two online forums reaching 60 families, and held 20 coffee events with partner charities. Over 40 professionals participated in these forums to answer your questions, discuss plans, and provide resources. We also represented your voices at borough meetings, although we've faced frustration with the lack of progress and co-production, as reflected in our survey recommendations.

Vision Statement

We asked our PCF school, parent and Management reps, 3 words they would use to describe the PCF.

From these words, we crafted our vision statement that we feel reflects our values and vision.
At Parent Carer Forum we strive to create a compassionate and inclusive environment where every voice is respected and empowered. Our professional and diligent team of parent volunteers are dedicated to driving positive change through openness, transparency, and understanding. We stand with the parents and young people with SEND in the borough. We hold ourselves accountable to challenge and support each member, fostering an inclusive voice and encouraging a respectful and compassionate approach. By working collaboratively, we aim to improve tomorrow and represent the diverse needs of our community, ensuring that we make a positive change.

Catch up with our previous event...

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....

Sip & Learn Thursday 18th July at 10am - This event is open to all carers in the Cheshire area so please share on your own social media.

Jane Hudson from Co-op Estate Planning Advisory Team will be joining us in the DSC Hub next month
.They are specialists in legal, Estate and later life planning and can provide lots of valuable advice and assistance

.

You DO NOT need to book for this event, come along and join us for a coffee!

Summary 2023/24 Workstreams PCF Representatives have attended.....

 Co CHAIR - REVIEW OF 2023/24
Short Breaks & HAF
Over the past year I have taken part in the quarterly contract review meetings for the Short Breaks service which includes Community Connections and Endorphins. I have met with the commissioners and the providers to look at how well the services are running, the data that they have gathered and the feedback from families. I have been able to ask questions and raise issues that parents have highlighted to us throughout the year at meetings and through the survey. 

I was also part of meetings about the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) SEND Winter and and Easter holiday provision, looking at applications along with the commissioners and trying to improve the communication/reach of the programme. 

Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity Steering Group (PINS)
I have been part of the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity Steering Group together with professionals from Health, Education and Social Care. We have been meeting for a couple of months now to plan the project and identify schools to take part. We have selected 4 schools that meet the criteria for the project and they have all agreed to take part. Each school has completed a 'Self Evaluation Form' where they have rated how well they think they are doing with many different aspects of Inclusion of Neurodiversity in their school and have identified areas where they would like to improve. The parents in each school have also been asked to complete a survey and have been invited along to a coffee morning that myself and Jo S have facilitated. It has been great to meet parents and talk and listen to them about their experiences. We will now work together with the Steering Group and each individual school to develop a bespoke plan of training and support for each school and each group of parents. 


Learning Disabilities Partnership Board (LDPB)
I have attended several meetings of the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board (LDPB)that is made up of adults with learning disabilities, carers and professionals from Health and Social Care. The meetings have been a great way of learning about adult services and making contacts and it has been interesting to learn about the experiences of adults with disabilities and their carers. I have also been to some meetings of a subgroup of the LDPB that has been formed by professionals working with adults with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD). 

I have been part of the 'Wraparound Focus Group' with a range of professionals from the Local Authority. We have met several times this year with the aim of improving the access to wraparound care for children and young people with SEND, particularly those in special schools.

Internally, I've also been to meetings about Communication, School Reps, the Parent Management Group and Steering Group!

COMMUNICATING THE VISION WORKSTREAM

The workstream aim is to communicate the Inclusion Matters strategy with all key stakeholders in the borough. The Parent Carer Forum is integral to ensuring that parents voices are heard in the implementation of this strategy. We have received commitment from CWaC leaders that the results of the PCF survey will feed into the metrics that will measure the success of this strategy. We have also requested to have parents of children with SEND voices heard when schools/LA roll out the new Government School Attendance Policy in September ensuring that reasonable adjustments are in place for our families whose children struggle with attending school. We know how imperative it is that CWaC parents and children’s voices are heard when new national polices are rolled out.

Clinical Neurodevelopment Network Summary

The Clinical Neurodevelopment Network (CNDN) was established to review and standardise pre- and post-diagnostic support, pathways, and communication. The CNDN is made up of professionals including: - Autism and ADHD Clinical Lead, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - CYP Clinical Lead for Neurodevelopment services, CWP, Consultant Community Paediatrician, Countess of Chester Hospitals, Operational Manager, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, CwaC PCF and CE PCF representative.

Sub-Committee Work:

• Reviewed all template letters from different providers.
• Co-produced new template letters with the Cheshire West and Cheshire East Parent Carer Forums (PCF).
• Examined referral acceptance/rejection letters.
• Discussed support available while waiting for appointments, ensuring hidden waits in pathways are identified and communicated.

Communication Efforts:

• The Clinical Network Communication Subgroup is currently paused. Contact is now leading the review and improvement of communication with individuals on the pathway for Cheshire East.
  

Funding and Projects:

• The Cheshire and Merseyside Transforming Care Programme awarded non-recurrent funding to the Integrated Care Board in Cheshire East Place.
• This funding supports improved communication and information initiatives for the local neurodiversity pathway.
• Cheshire East Place is piloting this work, with a review at the Cheshire and Merseyside level, as part of broader efforts to standardise pre- and post-diagnostic support, pathways, and communication.
• A waiting Well offer has been established in North Cheshire East and is reported to be going well by parent and carers.
  
  Waiting Well Initiatives
  To enhance these initiatives, members of the Clinical Network are asked to contribute to the waiting well offer by sharing existing training and drop-in sessions.
  The goal is to organise our collective skills into a comprehensive waiting well initiative.
  A meeting will be convened soon to coordinate existing offers, ensuring there is a clear, balanced offer for families without over- or under-utilising resources. Part of the Clinical Network’s remit is to make recommendations that address health inequalities across Cheshire. The Group agreed that the waiting well initiative needs to be rolled out across Cheshire. Work is ongoing in West Cheshire to agree standards and approach. A further update on this will be provided.

Cheshire West & Chester All Age Autism Partnership Board Update

The Parent Carer Forum is part of the Cheshire West & Chester All Age Autism Partnership Board, which works to improve the lives of Autistic people, their families, and carers. By coordinating efforts across the region, the Board aims to enhance the services and opportunities available to the Autistic community.

Purpose & Responsibilities:

• The Board’s main goal is to make life better for Autistic individuals and their families by improving services and opportunities.
• It supports and adapts the Government’s National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People, and Adults (2021-2026) to fit local needs.
• The Board values input from those with lived experience, ensuring they play a key role in shaping services.
  
  Objectives:
  - The Board aligns its work with the National Strategy’s six priorities:
  1. Increase understanding and acceptance of autism.
  2. Improve access to education for Autistic children and young people.
  3. Support smooth transitions to adulthood for Autistic youth.
  4. Boost employment opportunities for Autistic individuals.
  5. Address health and care disparities.
  6. Create appropriate community support.
  
  Activities:
• Develop and implement an all-age health and wellbeing autism strategy.
• Track the progress of working groups focused on specific goals.
• Work with other local groups to ensure a unified approach.
  
  Governance:
• The Board follows the 2009 guidelines for the Autism Strategy.
• It regularly reports to the relevant governing body.
• Members include representatives from healthcare, social care, education, and justice sectors, as well as individuals with lived experience.
  
  The PCF look forward to working in partnership with the board and providing updates where possible to our families.

Focus Group Update..

Approaches to Support Autistic Children and Young People in Cheshire West and Chester- information for parent carers and professionals.
The research paper written by the Principal Educational Psychologist aims to promote consistent and respectful language regarding autistic individuals to avoid stigmatisation and to outline effective support strategies for autistic children and young people in schools and settings. The principal educational psychologist presented a position paper at the PCF management meeting, seeking feedback from parents and carers which prompted
the need to seek more parent carers views. After receiving substantial initial feedback, a revised draft will be discussed in detail during a focus group meeting. The final paper will be available on the LiveWell site for parents, carers, and professionals in Cheshire West and Chester.
We will share this when it is available.

We have set up a webpage where we will be sharing Summer holiday information. Any inclusive clubs and activities in CWaC we hear about, we will add on this page so please keep checking on the run up to end of term.

Exciting things are happening at Cheshire West Youth Service as they launch their Re-energised Youth Service that has been reshaped to match the emerging needs of the young people they support. They have opportunities ranging from entry level 3 hours , the new Youth Work apprenticeship qualification to Qualified JNC Youth Worker roles. They also have the new Youth Inclusion Role that will support their SEND young people ensuring no one is excluded from attending our Youth Work provision.
 
Our Roles are:
1 x Youth Service Senior Practice Lead
3 x Youth Worker
12 x Youth Support Worker positions
4 x Youth Inclusion Work positions

Would you like to be part of the Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology Service User Group

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!

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Our mailing address is:  contact.pcfcwac@gmail.com