A parent carer forum is a group of parent carers of disabled children. Their aim is to make sure the services in their area meet the needs of disabled children and their families. They do this by gathering the views of local families and then working in partnership with local authorities, education settings, health providers and other providers to highlight where local services, processes and commissioners are working well, or challenge when changes or improvements need to be made.

Parent carer participation is when parents and professionals work together, recognising each other’s expert knowledge, to design, develop and improve services for disabled children in the local area. PODS (Parents Opening Doors) is a peer led charity based in Telford & Wrekin, we involve and support families of children and young people (aged 0-25 years) who have an additional need, or a disability, or SEND.

We are aware of the inequalities and that the community of parent carers is disproportionately affected by COVID19, and this has been further evidenced in the national report by Disabled Children’s Partnership ‘Left in Lockdown’ and wider reports, links given in further reading at the end of this report.

We have helped to reduce isolation and to promote inclusion wherever possible through offering opportunity to participate in activities to improve their health and wellbeing. A poignant reminder of finding the right place to be for our families, from a new family: “Connecting with other parents of children with SEND. I was feeling quite isolated before embracing what
PODS has to offer and meeting other families”

Thank you to all our families who have shared their experiences with us – these will go towards helping with service development in the future and for any immediate changes that may need to be addressed and that we pick up at regular communications meetings with key strategic leads across social care, education, health and community partners.