Parent carer forum handbook contents

About the handbook – contents

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Parent carer forum handbook

The second edition of the handbook for parent carer forums.

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Thank you

Thanks to everyone involved in the handbook development and more about Contact's role.

Parent carer forum handbook contents

A list of the parent carer forum handbook entries.

Handbook Accessibility

This handbook is designed with flexibility in mind. You can easily print sections most relevant to you and share them with your…

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How to feedback

Give feedback or comments on the handbook content.

Disclaimer

The guidance contained in this handbook and any template policies or procedures are for general information purposes only.

Forums: the basics – contents

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How forums began

A summary of how parent carer forums were first established

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What is a parent carer forum?

How forums work in partnership with local services and reach out to local parents.

What all forums have in common

Forums have a unique role: they represent the views and experiences of families with children and young people with special educational needs…

Participation and co-production

The purpose of parent carer forums is to work in partnership, collaboration, or co-production with local services.

Parent Carer Forums and campaigning

Both are working to affect change, but they approach their work in different ways.

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National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF)

In this section, we look at the role of the NNPCF that all forums are a member of.

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Success stories: parent carers making a difference

Take a look at some examples of success stories that Parent Carer Forums (PCFs) have shared with us highlighting some of their…

Find your local parent carer forum

View the full list of parent carer forums and their contact details.

Setting up a forum – contents

Setting up a steering group

How to set up a ‘steering group’ to get things up and running in a forum, including practical information about setting up…

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Aims and objectives

Agreeing aims and objectives ensures that everyone involved in the group understands its purpose.

Membership

Information on why and how to collect and safeguard wider forum membership information.

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and reaching out further

Information about reaching under-represented communities including examples from forums and the EDI toolkit

Deciding on a structure

How a forum is set up, with different structures to choose from, is important to consider.

Unincorporated associations

An unincorporated association is not a legal entity, but an organisation of two or more where the membership may change from time…

Running under the umbrella of another organisation (hosting)

Information on hosting and some of the advantages and disadvantages of being hosted.

Charity

Definition of what a charity is, the Charities Act 2011 along with some advantages and disadvantages to becoming a charity.

Charitable incorporated organisations

Find out how they are set up and some advantages and disadvantages.

Community Interest Company (CIC)

A community interest company (CIC) is a limited company which exists to benefit the community.

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Supporting each other

Take a look at our useful information for the forum's leadership team on how they can support each and work as a…

Holding an Annual General Meeting

AGMs are a good way to tell the wider parent carer membership the achievements and work you have undertaken throughout the year.

Insurance information for forums

This section looks at the different kinds of insurance a forum might need

Running the forum – contents

Managing the forums finance

Introduction to good governance for the forums finance.

Grants and monitoring

Important information on grants and monitoring for parent carer forums.

Good Governance

Information for forums on good governance.

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Policies and Procedures

Find more information and downloadable templates for policies and procedures.

Safeguarding information for forums

Including information about Disclosure barring service (DBS) checks, links to policies and procedures and safeguarding online learning session

Roles and responsibilities

Information to support forums with the development of its roles and responsibilities. Including example job descriptions and videos about different forum roles.

Managing staff and self-employed people

Information for forums on how to recruit and manage staff. It also looks at the rules around employment and self-employment.

Managing volunteers

Information for forums on how to manage volunteers so they feel valued members of the forum.

Paying people in the forum

Information for forums about paying people including staff, self-employed and volunteer expenses.

Supporting people working for the forum

How to support people working for the forum, including using reasonable adjustments and supporting neurodivergence.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Privacy

This section looks at the rules around storing data and signpost forums to resources.

Insurance information for forums

This section looks at the different kinds of insurance a forum might need

Working in partnership – contents

Working with Local Authorities

Including strategic boards, working groups and task and finish groups.

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Working with elected members

Information on forums working with elected members of local authorities such as cabinet or executive board members.

Health systems

Further information on how local health services are provided in England and organsiations responsible for Services, ICBs and NHS England.

Health information helpful for forums

Information useful for forums working on service design of health services.

Healthwatch

Information for forums Healthwatch and good practice guidance on working with them.

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Working with other local groups

Different ways that forums can work with other local groups involved with the forum.

Designing and reviewing services

Information about commissioning including strategic planning, procuring services and monitoring and evaluation, and how forums can help.

Local offer

Introduction to the statutory duty, the local offer, introduced under the Children and Families Act 2014.

OFSTED and CQC SEND area inspections

Information useful for forums on the OFSTED and CQC SEND area inspections and the forum's role.

Special Educational Needs and/ or Disability Information, Advice and support services (SENDIASs)

In this section we look at how forums can work with their local SENDIASs service.

Communication and gathering the parent voice – contents

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Collecting parent carer voice

Information useful for forums on how they can gain the voice of parent carers in their area.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and reaching out further

Information about reaching under-represented communities including examples from forums and the EDI toolkit

Responding to consultations and Inquiries

Tips for responding to consultations and inquires for forums.

Social Media

Social media can be a powerful tool that forums can use to reach parent carers.

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Branding

Branding can help forums to develop a clear identity and communicate their vision.

Working with media

Information on how forums can engage with parent carers, raise awareness of their activities and purpose, and foster a supportive and inclusive…

Developing a communication plan

Information on how forums can develop a communication to help them reach parent carers in their local area.

Support for forums – contents

Contact website

The Contact website holds a wide range of information which can be helpful for parent carer forums.

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Contact Parent Carer Participation Advisers

Parent Carer Participation Adviser's support the forum and provide a sounding board for the forum leadership. Find your forum's named adviser here.

NNPCF website and social media

View information available to all forums via the NNPCF website and social media platforms.

Community Matters

Find out more about Community Matters support offer.

CIC Assistance Programme 

The CIC assistance programme is designed to help forums to carry out their role while maintaining their wellbeing.

Contact Associates

Associates are freelance consultants with a range of skills that can support forum development.

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