Regional Participation
The NNPCF are seeing more opportunities to work at a regional level, supporting commissioning activities and sharing good practices. This shift emphasizes the critical role of our Regional Parent Carer Forum Networks, in enabling strategic parent carer participation. By bringing local experiences to the table, these networks help ensure that regional activities address and reflect the needs of local communities.
Board Members – Regional Role
The primary role of NNPCF Board member, in each region, is to act as a bridge between local Parent Carer Forums and broader regional and national structures. They share information and represent the real-life experiences and challenges faced by local Parent Carer Forums and their members, ensuring these perspectives are included in wider regional and national discussions. Along with feeding back information from the national work.
Regional Network Meetings
Each region holds Regional Parent Carer Forum meetings, which provide a platform for collaboration and communication. These meetings offer:
- Updates: Information on the activities of the NNPCF Board and the National Representatives Team.
- Feedback: Opportunities for the NNPCF Board member to hear about local issues affecting families and identify good practices.
- Collaboration: A space for forums within the region to exchange ideas, share information, and work together.
Regional Network Meetings are tailored to each region’s unique makeup and the specific needs of their member forums. A key feature of these meetings is ensuring that local voices are heard and considered in both regional and national conversations, strengthening the connection between local and wider activities.
Each region operates differently, but most have area regional representatives who, like the national representatives, ensure that the voices of member Parent Carer Forums are heard at a wide range of regional meetings and events. They work closely with the NNPCF Board member for the region, to amplify these voices and represent local perspectives effectively.
Regional Networks and Collaboration
Participation at the regional level is increasingly important as local authorities, health commissioners, and service providers collaborate across regional boards, meetings, and networks to address shared priorities and challenges. Key organisations the NNPCF work with regionally include:
- DfE Regional Directors
DfE Regional Directors work with local areas in their region to improve outcomes for children, families, and learners, focusing on areas such as children’s social care, SEND, schools, and area-based programs.
- Regional SEND Groups Every region has its own SEND network which will include the NNPCF Board member for that region, local Parent Carer Forums, Health partners and Local Authorities. These networks provide opportunities for Parent Carer Forums to hear about the collaborative work happening in their region and include opportunities to input into these activities. Every region is structured slightly differently, so these networks vary region to region.
- Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS)
The ADCS comprises leaders from children’s services departments within local authorities across England. They oversee a range of services for children, young people, and families, including education, health, youth programs, early years support, and social care.
- Local Government Association (LGA)
The LGA represents local councils, giving them a strong voice in national policy discussions. It works to shape political decisions and supports councils in finding local solutions to national challenges.
- NHS England Regional Teams (NHSE)
NHS England operates through seven regional teams that mostly align with the nine DfE regions. These teams support the 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICS), which are responsible for managing local NHS services, improving community health, and integrating health and social care services.
- Provider Collaboratives
Provider collaboratives are partnerships of two or more NHS trusts (such as hospitals and mental health services) working together at scale to improve services and outcomes for their populations, including children and young people with SEND.
The Importance of Regional Collaboration
As collaboration at the regional level continues to grow, regional participation becomes even more vital. By ensuring that parent carer forums are actively involved, we can help shape and deliver services that meet the needs of the families we represent.
TO FIND YOUR LOCAL PARENT CARER FORUM:
