News – National Network of Parent Carer Forums C.I.C

The NNPCF are delighted to announce that Jo Harrison, Steering Group member for the East of England, has been elected as the NNPCF incoming Co-Chair, as Tina Emery prepares to step down.

Tina has been the South West representative for two full terms and has been Co-Chair for five years. Tina will be stepping down at the end of her term, in September 2024, and in the meantime will start the process of the Co-Chair handover. We are currently in the process of recruiting a new South West representative and look forward to welcoming the new Steering Group member soon.

Jo has been an active member of the NNPCF as National and Regional representative for many years and has been an active member of the Steering Group since her appointment.

On her appointment Jo Harrison said:

“Parent Carer Forums are amazing and dedicated parent carers who make such a difference to the families that they support on top of their own caring responsibilities, so I feel very privileged to represent the families of our membership, along with Sarah, whom I hope I will compliment, as the Co-Chair of the NNPCF.

It’s been a pleasure working with Tina since I started working with the NNPCF in 2019, I know she will be missed and that I have big shoes to fill.

The NNPCF has an amazing Operational Support Team and Steering Group who have a wealth of knowledge, are dedicated and work with such passion to improve outcomes for families and I feel privileged to be part of such an amazing team!”

On stepping down Tina Emery stated:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this role and it has been an opportunity of a lifetime. I have seen a transition with NNPCF in my tenure and I am so proud of what we have achieved as a team, and I am excited to see what happens next!

To all the Parent Carer Forums, you have been amazing and made my job a lot easier, thank you for all your hard work that you do on top of your caring responsibilities.

Congratulations to Jo, who will be amazing!”

Co-Chair Sarah Clarke added;

“One of the strengths of the NNPCF, is that it continues to grow, evolve and develop with every Co-Chair and new Steering Group member. In the last year, as a Steering Group and Operational Team, we have spent some time focusing on internal processes, how we can make the greatest impact and ensure that the value of coproduction at every level becomes embedded everywhere.

I have enjoyed my time working closely with Tina and have learnt so much. Tina will be with us for a few months yet, but when the time comes, we will be wishing her the very best on her new adventures.

As we continue to grow as an organisation, I am very much looking forward to continuing to build upon our work together with Jo and as a whole team, along with our wonderful Parent Carer Forums and all our stakeholders.”

Sarah Clarke appointed NNPCF Co-Chair as Mrunal Sisodia steps down

We are delighted to announce that Sarah Clarke, steering group member for the South East, has been elected as NNPCF Co-Chair by the board at a meeting on Tuesday 25 April. Sarah has served on the steering group for the last three years.

This means that after seven years our co chair, Mrunal Sisodia is stepping down from his role as NNPCF Co-Chair and East of England Steering Group member. Mrunal has been on the steering group since July 2016 and has served two full terms. He will be stepping own from both roles at the end of July.

Until then, he will be working with Sarah and Tina Emery, joint Co-Chair, to ensure a clear hand over of responsibilities.

The NNPCF will be contacting the East of England region to recruit a new regional steering group member later this week.

On her appointment Sarah said,

“It is a such an honour to have the opportunity to represent our families as the Co-Chair of the NNPCF. Mrunal and Tina made an amazing team and I hope that Tina and I will have that same strength. I am grateful that we have a network, of wonderful, committed parent carer forums, who never cease to inspire me with the work that they do. The NNPCF also has a dedicated Steering Group and Management Team whose support for my appointment has been very touching and I can’t wait to get started.”

On stepping down Mrunal stated,

“I have very mixed feelings about stepping down from the NNPCF steering group. On one hand it has been such a pleasure and a privilege working with such a passionate, committed and positive group of people and second to being a dad, I suspect this will be the most important role I ever have. On the other hand, I know that after serving my two terms, seven years on the NNPCF steering group it is time for me to move on – the organisation will continue to grow and do even greater work without me.

On that note, I am so pleased that at yesterday’s NNPCF steering group meeting, we elected Sarah to take over the post of Co-Chair from August. I have worked with Sarah for the last three years and I have every confidence that she will move the NNPCF onwards building on the work done by all the steering group members and cochairs that have preceded her.

I will be working with Sarah and the NNPCF steering group and management team over the next three months to ensure a smooth handover and I know that I won’t be missed.”

Co-Chair Tina Emery added,

“I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Mrunal since 2017. He has inspired and taught the team loads over his tenure, offering his insights into the political world like no other.

Whilst he says he won’t be missed, he will.

When you take on the role of Co-Chair, you worry that you will leave the NNPCF in a worse place than where you started, Mrunal you need not have worried. I am in awe of what we have achieved together as a team, we now have a strong steering group and management teams and you were the driver of that change. We as an organisation are more independent than ever and we thank you for having that vision and drawing the team together to start that journey. We are definitely in a better place now.

Your new role in the East of England Ambulance service NHS Trust are really lucky to have your vision and your drive and we will wish you well.

I am really pleased that Sarah will be joining us as the new Co-Chair, she has experience in the steering group. Together with forums, Steering group and management team, we will strive forward with the coproduction message, working with partners across all agencies.”

We will be starting the process to replace Mrunal as the East of England steering group member ASAP.