What is a Parent Carer Forum

What is a Parent
Carer Forum?

Uniting the voices of Parents and Carers
through Co-production

This leaflet aims to support your understanding of
the role of Oldham Parent Carer Forum and inform
you how your voice shapes better services in
Oldham.

About Oldham Parent Carer
Forum

Oldham Parent Carer Forum was started in 2010
by 4 parents and carers of children and young
people with additional needs and/or disabilities.
Our driving mission was to ensure that parents
and carers had access to meaningful information,
consultation and co-production opportunities
enabling their voices to be heard to shape better
services and to improve the lives and outcomes of
children and young people with additional needs
and/or disabilities aged 0-25.

Oldham Parent Carer forum is a collective voice of
parents and carers of children and young people
aged 0-25 who have, or may have, additional
needs and/or disabilities.

The Forum has a steering group of parental
representatives who lead this work and listen to
the views of other parents and carers in the local
area to make sure we know what is important to
them. Forums are keen to hear from as many
parents and carers as possible.

The aim is to make sure the services in their area
meet the needs of children, young people, and
their families. They do this by gathering the views
of local families and then working in partnership
with local authorities, education settings, health
providers and other providers.

What can you expect from your
Parent Carer Forum?

Co-production is an important principle in Parent
Carer Participation. This is when Forums play an
integral and equal part in the decision-making
process and are fully engaged in shaping,
developing, implementing, and evaluating services
and systems. Evidence shows that these
partnerships often make the best use of people's
time and money, whilst also improving outcomes
for children and young people.

You can expect your forum to attend meetings
and working groups across the borough
representing your voice to support and shape
policy and services that your family may access.

You can expect a dedicated helpline and email for
you to contact, access to a website, a regular
newsletter, and organised events throughout the
year.

We are here to signpost you to information that
enables you to access the support you need from
the right people at the right time. We also share
up to date information and participation
opportunities at a local, regional, and national
level to keep you informed on matters relating to
additional needs and disabilities.

We will consult with you regularly. This means
we bring together parent and carers of children
and young people with additional needs and/or
disabilities who live in or access services in
Oldham to find out what is important to you.

Do Forum’s provide direct
support?

Parent Forums do not provide direct support to
families. Oldham Parent Carer Forum is a peer-to-
peer support network.

We signpost to other services that can provide
direct support to families.

Do Forum’s undertake individual
case work?

Forums do not undertake individual casework,
however, Oldham Parent Carer Forum has very
extensive partnership links both informal and
formal with statutory services in Oldham who can
provide individual casework based upon your
needs.

How can I become a member?

Parents, carers and grandparents of a child or
young person aged 0-25 who have or may have
and additional need or a disability and who live in
Oldham are welcome to join.

Joining your forum does not mean you have to
commit lots of time. You can join and receive
information, and then decide if you want to get
more involved at your own pace.

We look forward to welcoming you as a member
and you can find our membership form on our
website.

Where can I access Oldham
Parent Carer Forum?

Oldham Parent Carer Forum hosts and support
many events across Oldham and bring together a
range of organisations and services who support
children and young people (aged 0-25 years) with
additional needs and/or disabilities and provide
families with information about activities,
education, and care/support.

Our events and activities are shared via our
website, newsletter and social media channels so
please take a look to find out what’s on.

Our dedicated helpline is open Monday to Friday
9am – 5pm. A voicemail facility is available if we
are unable to respond immediately.

.

Other Support Available

POINT:
www.point-send.co.uk

Oldham SEND Information, Advice and Support
Service
www.point-send.co.uk/oldhamsendiass

Oldham SEND Local Offer
www.oldham.gov.uk/localoffer

How to contact us

Helpline: 0161 503 1555

Office: Chadderton Court
451 Middleton Road
Chadderton
Oldham. OL9 9LB

Email: [email protected]

Online: www.point-
send.co.uk/oldhampcf

Facebook: www.facebook.com/oldhampcf

Oldham Parent Carer Forum is supported by POINT,
registered charity No 1161596 and is a member of the
National Network of Parent Carer Forums.

Issued: September 2021