Prior to the reforms in 2013, the WPCC sought and secured additional funding from the local authority to enable the parent carer forum to employ two information officers. Named locally as SENDIS, this service launched prior to the SEND reforms and was in direct response to parent carer feedback identifying a need for dedicated and specialist support and signposting. Additional funding from the local authority has over the years ensured that the WPCC’s support and signposting offer can grow, which has enabled the parent carer forum to enhance and build on its early offer. WPCC currently employs two telephone triage workers who signpost parents at the initial point of contact if enquiries are low level and two telephone information officers who support parents and carers with more complex enquiries. WPCC’s information and signposting offer is further enhanced by their three outreach workers who go into the community to provide information and support for harder to reach and more vulnerable parent carers, in an effort to reduce barriers and promote inclusion.
This diagram shows the structure of the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council. Lead by a strategic director, the rest of the steering group is made up of a parent carer consultant, chair of participation, volunteer coordinator, office manager and senior SENDIS officer.
The chair of participation oversees the work of a group of Strategic Volunteers: an early years team lead, health team lead, ASC team lead and a strategic representative. The volunteer coordinator lead’s a team of operational volunteers, including: DaD1 moderators, two engagement representatives, a local offer representative. TOFP facilitators, SWAPP facilitators, an events host and an events front-of house.
The senior SENDIS officer is supported by two telephone triage officers, a SENDIS officer and three outreach workers. Whilst the office manager’s team includes an office assistant and web support officer.
Where website and phone calls prove a challenge, outreach workers make home visits. This is especially helpful when parent carers have a disability themselves, have limited access to technology, speak English as a second language, have low confidence, or live with a mental illness. WPCC is extending reach to seldom heard families, so that their voice is just as heard and included in WPCC’s work. Services delivered by the WPCC place engagement at the heart of the local offer and provide a one-stop shop for families of children and young people with SEND. Through their proactive efforts, they are able to reach a significant number of children and young people with SEND to ensure they are connected with the services they can access.
Recent funding has also supported a paid volunteer coordinator to lead the WPCC engagement team and work with settings (early years, schools and coffee mornings) to promote the parent carer forum and help to engage more parent carer members. The volunteer coordinator also supports and coordinates a large number of other WPCC volunteers including those delivering parenting courses and supporting the QA element of SEN decision-making groups. Large in-person information events are hosted at least twice a year, with over 200 members in attendance at each event. These events are free to attend, and the WPCC offers tea, coffee and cake to all who attend, as well as covering travel and childcare expenses for parent carer attendees.
Wiltshire has a large military population and these families are not always proactive about seeking support, yet the WPCC has been successful in engaging them due to their position as a non-statutory body and working closely with the Army Welfare Service so that military families are aware of the support available to them.