Parent Participation

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

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

• 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

Why Parent Participation?

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

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

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’

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

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

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

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)

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

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”

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