How parent participation can change services in your area

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Parent carers can help pinpoint problems frequently experienced by families with disabled children. This knowledge is useful to professionals to help them improve how services are delivered, so they better meet family’s needs.

Parents and professionals work together, recognising each other’s expert knowledge, so informed decisions are made which make the best use of people’s time and money.

How parent participation has led to better services

Here are a few examples of how parent participation has made a difference in local areas.

Improving wheelchair services

In Southend the forum worked with the NHS to create a wheelchair service that met family’s needs. The forum keep the NHS informed if families have problems with the service.
For more on how Southend improved their wheelchair and transport services please click here.

Commissioning short breaks

Parents, disabled children and young people helped to decide the short breaks on offer in Redbridge.
For more on this case study click here.

Improving the local playground

In Hull parents helped the local authority improve play facilities for disabled children in the local park.
For more on how parents improved park facilities in Hull click here.

Providing information to families

In Brighton, Amaze, a parent led organisation provides information and support to families and collects data about families needs to assist the local authority in planning services.
For more on how Amaze helps Brighton council click here.

If you would like to receive regular e-bulletins with more examples please contact Claire Harding on claire.harding@cafamily.org.uk or call 020 7608 8785.