All local authority areas are required to have a Healthwatch. Healthwatch act as a service user champion for health and social care. They listen to the issues that really matter to local communities and their experiences of using health and social care services.
Like parent carer forums, they are entirely independent and impartial, and any information you share with them is confidential. Healthwatch has a number of statutory powers that includes a seat on the health and wellbeing board and the ability to undertake ‘Enter and View’ assessments of services and organisations that are registered with the Care Quality Commission. They also have an information and advice function related to health and social care (and are mentioned in the SEND Code of Practice). Some Healthwatches also provide NHS complaints and advocacy services
Resources from our work with Healthwarch
Contact and NNPCF worked with Healthwatch England to co-produce a policy briefing for local Healthwatch staff and volunteers to raise awareness of SEND and parent carer forums. Alongside this, an event hosted by Healthwatch England saw local Healthwatch and parent carer forums to explore joint working.
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Useful resources for forums
Working with partners special educational needs and disabilities
A resource for forums and Healthwatch working together
Find out moreWhat is Healthwatch
How Healthwatch works and how they can work with forums
Find out moreWhat is a parent carer forum?
Slides from a webinar presented to Healthwatch by the NNPCF
Find out moreParticipation and co-production
Find out more about the forums role in co-production
Participation and co-productionContact adviser
Find your name parent participation adviser for more support
Parent Carer Participation AdviserHealthwatch
Find your local Healthwatch
Find out more