26-06-09 Event Report + Invite

  • Uploaded by: Heather
  • 0
  • 0
  • May 2020
  • PDF

This document was uploaded by user and they confirmed that they have the permission to share it. If you are author or own the copyright of this book, please report to us by using this DMCA report form. Report DMCA


Overview

Download & View 26-06-09 Event Report + Invite as PDF for free.

More details

  • Words: 1,784
  • Pages: 6
Windchimes Parent Driven Services event. 26th June 2009. Report.

Windchimes Parent Driven Services Information Event 26th June 2009

01227 741748

01227 367181

Report 1.0 Aims: • • •

To inform parents/carers of KCC plans to develop parent driven services. To answer any questions that may arise and begin to explore some of the issues for parents becoming involved. To agree a process to set up a parent driven group to govern the use of Windchimes and the development of services across East Kent.

2.0 Method: 2.1 A leaflet was created to inform parents of the event and invite them to attend. This was distributed through the Disability Register, special schools, the register of all parents accessing short breaks at Windchimes and the mailing lists of SNAAP and The Children’s Society. 2.2 The event was held from 09.30am with tea/coffee and ended at 1.00pm with lunch provided. It was designed as a mixture of presentations to give information, question and answer sessions, discussion groups and a short simulation exercise. 2.3 The event was opened by Doreen Shaw, (Area Manager, East Kent Disabled Children’s Services) who outlined activities and services in East Kent that have been or are being developed and delivered as a result of consultation with parents. 2.4 This was followed by a presentation from Alan Milner (Services Director – The Parents Consortium) who outlined the history of his organisation explaining that it has a

Page 1 of 6

Windchimes Parent Driven Services event. 26th June 2009. Report. trustee board consisting of a majority of parents of disabled children. He outlined some of the positive outcomes that have been achieved by the organisation as well as some of the difficult issues they have had to face and overcome and some of the key factors for success that they had found. 2.5 Two parent trustees from SNAAP (Vanessa Boukharouba and Marilyn Smalley) then spoke about their personal experience as parent trustees and some of the highs and lows, the benefits and the difficulties they had experienced. 2.6 This was followed by a short presentation from Gill Essex (Planning Officer – Disabled Children’s Services) and Ivan O’Reilly (Programme Manager – Windchimes). Gill outlined the drive from Government to have parents involved in the planning and delivery of services and some of the activity on this in Kent. Ivan then outlined the current arrangements for multi-agency directed management of Windchimes and the development of services across East Kent. He explained that it is envisioned that these services will ideally be directed and managed by an independent organisation, governed by a majority of parents. An outline timetable has been agreed to achieve this and today’s event is to enlist interested parents to help shape and drive the process. 2.7 Parents attending were then asked to form small groups and discuss how they would like to be involved, considering the following questions: • Discuss the options presented so far. • What ways can you see that this could improve services for your child? • What might some of the difficulties be for you in becoming involved and how might these be Time was built in for parents to meet & chat with each other informally. overcome? • What support would you need? • What other issues would there be for you? • How do we ensure that what we do is transparent, fair and as far as possible represents everyone’s needs? 2.8 Groups then fed back and a short discussion was held. A short simulation game was then introduced. Each parent was given £100 in £5 denominations. A range of 15 services were posted on the wall with relative costings for each. Parents were asked to then purchase the services they would wish to for their child.

The Money Game.

Page 2 of 6

Windchimes Parent Driven Services event. 26th June 2009. Report. 3.0 Results:

3.1 • • • • • • • • •

The following were identified as key issues from the discussion groups: Geography of East Kent. – The difficulty of travelling from the Isle of Sheppey to Herne Bay was raised. Work & Childcare commitments Provide flexible childcare to meet the needs of each individual child. Trust parents to arrange childcare without filling in detailed intrusive forms. Involvement should not be an additional cost or burden to parents. Consultation with parents should be on-going alongside any new arrangements. Need to ensure pan-disability representation. How will we choose representatives? Trustees will need to be widely informed – training & speakers. Support can be gained from specialist agencies.

3.2

The Money Game. Results 1% 2% 4%

4%

Holiday Playscheme 21%

Overnight Stay

5%

Behaviour Management After School Clubs

5%

Youth Club Information & Advice Surgery

5%

Care in the Home 15%

7%

Sport Activities Specialist Childminder Youth Befriending Sibling Groups

7%

Music Therapy 10%

14%

Early Years

4.0 Page 3 of 6

Windchimes Parent Driven Services event. 26th June 2009. Report. Parents feedback on the event:

What you thought was good

What you thought could have been better / different



The Support Group was very good. A chance to meet other parents.



Name badges. We should have had an introduction to who everybody is.



Well organised, great location for me – interesting speakers. Met some great parents.



Wish I could have stayed longer! Sorry!



Name badges. Introductions.



More parents.



Would have been good if more parents had attended, maybe an evening or weekend one is better?



Opportunity to be involved.



Vanessa and Marilyn’s speech!!!!



Getting parents’ views/offering them the chance to be involved.



The information that was given. The chance to share our views.



More parents to have come along and voiced their opinion.

Meeting people with children of similar disabilities and the people at Windchimes.



Short on parents, would be nice so have more of their support.





Informative, opened my eyes to what could be achieved.



Thought as a 1st meeting coverage, speakers was good.



Very informative talking about all their important issues, that was covered.



Great to know Windchimes will be parent led and voices heard. Nice to be updated on the progress so far.

5.0

Page 4 of 6

Windchimes Parent Driven Services event. 26th June 2009. Report. Conclusions and next steps. 5.1 Despite a wide promotion of the event it was disappointing that only 12 parents attended. Several other parents had contacted Windchimes to express their interest, but explain that they were unable to attend on the date set. Consideration must be given to the amount of notice given for the event, the geography of East Kent, containing four local authority administrative districts and time and travel constraints as well as holding the meeting in daytime, when it is inaccessible to parents who work already. 5.2 Those who did attend were supportive of the principles involved in developing a new independent entity to manage services across East Kent. All attending have said they would like to attend a follow up event. Seven have stated their interest in becoming trustees with a further two undecided as yet. 5.3 Simple barriers to involvement exist such as travel costs and childcare costs. These need to be provided for. Parents attending were also emphasising that this needs to be done in a way that is simple and non-stigmatising. Ie. they should not have to justify the need and childcare should be designed to suit their individual child. 5.4 Representation as a principle was raised in a number of forms, questions about how parent representatives & trustees would be selected/elected, the need to ensure all ‘types’ of disability and their specific needs were taken into account and the need to ensure that parent consultation does not end here ie with the establishment of an independent body. 5.5 The need for on-going capacity building, training & support was also seen as key. 5.6 Feedback on the event itself indicates that those who attended found it useful and there was broad support for the proposals. Meeting other parents was commented on as useful. The need to reach more parents was particularly emphasised under the question ‘what could have been better/different?’ 5.7 As an initial event it was reasonably successful against the aims set. Parents’ comments and feedback indicates that the next event needs to ensure it is widely promoted. It should be designed to allow time for parents to meet each other informally as well as formally and spend time discussing issues. A brief recap of the first event would be useful and serve to inform parents who were unable to attend this first event. This could be followed by addressing the issues raised above of representation, barriers to involvement and solutions for these whilst looking further at the personal implications for parents of the skills and knowledge required to act as a trustee and sources of learning and support for these.

Ivan O’Reilly Centre Programme Manger Windchimes. 01/07/09 See over for date of next event

@

Page 5 of 6

Windchimes Parent Driven Services event. 26th June 2009. Report.

To all parents/carers of disabled children in East Kent Following the information event held on the 26th June 2009 we are holding a follow up event for those who expressed an interest in finding out more and possibly becoming involved as a trustee or who would like to help shape how parents can influence services in the future. If you are interested or may be interested and could not attend the first event please come to this event. Monthly meetings will be held from this event onwards. To make sure we plan and cater for all who attend, please let us know if you plan to attend. You can either phone Miranda on 01227 741748 or e-mail [email protected] If you have any questions or comments please contact Ivan O’Reilly at Windchimes on 01227 741748 WE ARE HOLDING A FOLLOW UP EVENT ON: DATE:

Wed. 23rd September.

From 9.30 am – 2.00pm

Tea/Coffee from 9.30. Start at 10.00. Lunch provided at 1.00pm

For:

Any parent/carer of a disabled child.

Why?

We will build on the first event (subject of this report) and agree how we will ensure that those who want to be involved can be involved, how we can ensure that the needs of all disabled children are represented and explore some of the personal implications for parents in becoming a charity trustee.

Please come and join us. Can’t get there? Contact us on 01227- 741748, ask for Miranda or Ivan and we can arrange to reimburse any taxi or traveling expenses or if you have any other requirements such as childcare, an interpreter or particular dietary requirements.

Page 6 of 6

Related Documents

Event Invite
November 2019 5
Atx Event Invite
June 2020 2
Invite
December 2019 26

More Documents from ""

Friday Fun Club Flyer
May 2020 55
Ethics Handbook 2008
June 2020 33
Small Consent Form
May 2020 50
June Newsletter A
May 2020 23
Common Terms
June 2020 23