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Parent Participation

Parent Participation. References. Welsh Assembly Government (2006) “ Practice Guide for Children and Young People’s Partnerships ”, DELLS Information Document No: 019-06, September 2006

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Parent Participation

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  1. Parent Participation

  2. References • Welsh Assembly Government (2006) “Practice Guide for Children and Young People’s Partnerships”, DELLS Information Document No: 019-06, September 2006 • Family Policy Alliance (2005) “Parent Participation: Improving Services for Children and Families”, Parentline Plus

  3. Framework • Definition: anyone who plays a significant role in bringing up a child • WAG adopted UNCRC – 7 core aims • UNCRC - Parents have primary responsibility; Family given necessary assistance and support • Policy drivers: Making the Connections, Children and Young People’s NSF, Parenting Action Plan

  4. Why Parent Participation? • Improve the quality of life of children and their families • Parents are biggest single influence on children • Can identify local issues, facilities • Services will may be more relevant, responsive and better used • Increased trust in services • Parents may become volunteers, peer educators, mentors

  5. A model for Parent Participation Wilcox – 5 levels of participation • Information – telling parents what is planned • Consultation -offering options • Deciding together – encouraging new options • Acting together – deciding together on best option • Supporting independent action – support to develop own agenda

  6. Understanding the Barriers - Parents • Demands on time • Feel alienated from a service • May not use any service so are “out of the loop” • Wary of meetings/form filling – literacy, jargon, gender issues, trust • Practical issues – transport, access • May not feel contribution valued • Need support to contribute

  7. Understanding the Barriers Professionals • Demands on time • Previous unsuccessful efforts • Constant need to engage • Geographical spread of families • Training/experience • Fear of parents’ ‘wish-lists’

  8. Information • Information about local services; about children’s needs and parenting and about planned developments • Systems that ensure information reaches as many parents as possible • Take into account the different ways people are able to access it • Parents can help produce user-friendly information • Variety of ways of sharing information

  9. Consultation • What can parents influence? – consultation or deciding together? • Use a range of methods of consulting • Make sure minority groups have their views taken into account • Provide feedback to parents

  10. Methods • Leaflets, newsletters, displays – go to where people are; include a leaflet in the local paper; ask the paper to write an article and invite comments • Surveys , meetings – door to door; set up focus groups; questionnaire with freepost reply envelope • Working groups/forums – set up user forums; hold workshops/events • Consider venue –“Ensuring Inclusion” (good practice checklist) • List of methods, including advantages and disadvantages @ www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/idk/aio/68967

  11. Questionnaires • Consider getting expert help to design questionnaire • Make sure questions are easy to understand • Avoid leading questions/phrase in neutral terms • Pilot the question design • Have some open questions • Accessibility • Covering letter • Consider anonymity • Consider language (www.plainenglish.org.uk)

  12. Make meetings work for parents • Ensure meetings held at convenient times • Preparation • Help parents contribute • Keep paperwork short and simple“The minutes were like double Dutch to me – it was all jargon and abbreviations” • Ensure parents have a chance to speak, but without putting them on the spot

  13. Equality and Diversity • Fathers and male carers – activity rather than discussion; explicit in wanting involvement of fathers; male friendly images and language • Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) parents – outreach, BME projects or groups, consider language and culture issues • Parents of disabled children – Contact a Family, Council for Disabled Children (2004) “Parent Participation, improving services for disabled children”

  14. Further Information • Lucy Akhtar, Development Officer for ParentingEmail: lucy.akhtar@childreninwales.org.uk • Tony Ivens, Fatherhood Development Officer,Email: tony.ivens@childreninwales.org.uk Children in Wales, Tel: 029 20 342434 www.childreninwales.org.uk

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