A period of . . . → Read More: SEN GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION]]> Medway Parent and Carers Forum are holding a special focus group on Tuesday 3rd May at Medway Carers Centre.It is to get opinions and feedback about the new Government SEN Green Paper which was issued on Wednesday 9th March. Come along and find out what these big changes will mean to you.

A period of consultation has begun and will continue until Thursday 30th June. You can read the document and make comments online or give us your feedback and The Forum will prepare a reply based on comments and opinions received from members.  If you want to find out more, follow this link and read a brief overview or the full document.  http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/a0075339/sengreenpaper

The Medway Parents and Carers Forum

The Medway Parents and Carers Forum is a  group formed to help bring together the parents, families and carers . . . → Read More: Aiming High]]> Under the Aiming High for Disabled Children Program, funding was made available to help support parents and carers to have a voice in shaping locally delivered services for disabled children and young people.

The Medway Parents and Carers Forum

The Medway Parents and Carers Forum is a  group formed to help bring together the parents, families and carers of children and young people with a variety of additional needs to have a voice within Medway.  The forum is run by parents for parents, with support from Medway Council and other organisations.

Our Aims

• To have a collective voice around common issues.
• To work in partnership with those who provide services and support.
• To raise awareness of what support /services are needed.
• To raise awareness of issues faced by our children.
• To share experience and knowledge.
• To give feedback.
• To ensure that the future for our children is a good one.

To achieve these aims we need your support, our strength and effectiveness relies upon your opinions and viewpoints.

What next?

All parents carers of disabled children and young people are automatically members. To be involved or if you would like more information our contact details are overleaf.  There is no charge for our service and no commitment-except to receive occasional communications from us about what is happening in our local area, with opportunities to express your views on a variety of topics (eg, short breaks, transition, childcare etc) at whatever level you wish.

What the Forum can’t do

is tackle individual issues, it can only deal with issues that affect a number of people.

Find . . . → Read More: Children’s Disability Link register]]> Parents and carers of disabled children are encouraged to join the Children’s Disability Link register, a database maintained at Parklands. The disability register offers families regular updated information that may be of interest to them. Information held on the register is used to plan new services and highlight the needs of local families.

Find out more by emailing disabilitylink@medway.gov.uk.

Annual General Meeting & Information Morning  

 Medway Pathfinder

Wednesday 22 February 2012

The King Charles Hotel, Brompton Road, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 5QT

       10.00am – 1.00 pm

Medway Parents and Carers Forum are an independent parent led group of parents and carers of . . . → Read More: AGM 2012]]>  

Annual General Meeting & Information Morning  

 Medway Pathfinder

Wednesday 22 February 2012

The King Charles Hotel, Brompton Road, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 5QT

       10.00am – 1.00 pm

Medway Parents and Carers Forum are an independent parent led group of parents and carers of children of young people with a variety of additional support needs and disabilities, from all communities and backgrounds.

This event gives you the chance to find out more about The SE7 Pathfinder Project . This project involves Medway Parents and Carers Forum and Medway Council, working in partnership with six other local authorities and their forums to develop a single assessment linking education, health and social care. Find out how the proposed changes will affect your families and how you can help.

Also information stands with support groups, projects and direct payments.     

Children are welcome, but parents are asked to supervise their children at all times.

Any parent wishing to be a member of the MPCF steering committee should produce a personal statement no longer than half of an A4 sheet detailing how they would be representative of other parents.

These personal statements should be returned to the MPCF by post or email, to be received no later than 17^th February 2012. These statements will be displayed on the website prior to the AGM.

Even if you don’t feel the steering group is for you, please come and support your Forum and make your voice heard.

Here are the nomination personal statements for Medway Parent Carers Forum Steering committee for 2012. The election will be held on Wednesday 22nd February 2012.

Nan Brett

My name is Nan Brett and I would like to nominate myself for a place on the committee of Medway Parents and Carers . . . → Read More: AGM Nomination for 2012]]> AGM NOMINATION 2012

Here are the nomination personal statements for Medway Parent Carers Forum Steering committee for 2012. The election will be held on Wednesday 22^nd February 2012.

Nan Brett

My name is Nan Brett and I would like to nominate myself for a place on the committee of Medway Parents and Carers Forum. After a career in teaching special needs teenagers, I am now a foster mum to a boy who has educational and behavioural difficulties.

Working with the forum over the past year, I realise how many people with varying needs have great difficulties in accessing the right help and who to contact. It is my aim to spread the information to as many parents and carers as possible.

Keith Clear

My name is Keith Clear and I have been Co-Chair of Medway Parents and Carers Forum since it started in 2009. Lots of people know my daughter who has Down Syndrome, ASD and OCD. She helps me deliver disability awareness presentations sometimes but I am very passionate about getting my daughter a real life.

As Co-Chair, I work with a really hard working, focused and passionate committee and there are lots of challenges but we have had some good successes and, with the influence and feedback of parents and carers, we have changed professional opinions on parent participation.

I would like to stand again as Co-Chair so that we can continue building on the groundwork success that we have already achieved.

Anne-Marie Morgan

I have a son that goes to Bradfield’s school and he has moderate learning difficulties and a.d.h.d I would love to be on the committee as it would help with the skills that i have got to use in meetings. I am a parent helper in Twydall Primary School, part of the parent’s forum at my girl’s school and also part of the PTA. Also I was on the parent’s forum at my son’s old school Danecourt School. I really enjoy helping people so I can use my skills.

I think it would help as well to know allot to know about my child when he is older and now i am really interested to know more and have lots of information for me and also to share with other parents and carers.

I am looking forward to be with the committee as I would gain alot from the meetings.

Rita Treves

I have two children a son age 14years and a daughter age 8years.

My daughter has long term health issues following treatment for childhood cancer(Neuroblastoma) at age 2.

She is hearing impaired and requires 2 hearing aids to communicate well. I am always interested in new research in this area.

She has just been reviewed by the physiotherapy service so I am getting to know this service too.

I have many hospital appointments with my daughter and am well aware of the problems parents may face.

This may be waiting for appointments or trying to get your point across to a professional who seems not to have the time for you.

It is also about fitting things around your life in general especially what is happening to other children within the family unit.

I recently attended a parent participation course which has improved my confidence to challenge professionals about my daughter’s needs.

I am involved in the pathways work with early years and am enjoying being part of this.

I think it is very important that all the services-Health, Education and Social care, work together to provide a seamless service for parents and their children with extra needs.

Parents are under immense pressure and need to have more support than is currently available. They also need to be valued and listened to so that their child’s care can be better.

Lowri Walsh

I am the parent of a child with Global Developmental Delay and Sensory Problems. I help run support group for parents of statemented children at my child’s school and I am also a qualified Assistant Brownie Leader and help run the Cliffe Brownie Unit. I have a background in IT Project Management but is now a full-time carer. Recently I have been helping the committee to resolve the current issues with the Forum’s website, which is hopefully moving forward. I have also become a Parent representative on County Wide Children’s Equipment Group and Early Years SEND Pathfinder project on behalf of MPCF. I think it is important that we as parents are involved with the Council and NHS is trying to improve existing services and in shaping the way new services are provided in order to get the best results for our children

Pauline Weston

My name is Pauline Weston, I would like to nominate myself for the Parents and Carers committee.  I have been helping in the past year on the committee, in the past year and able to give more time.

I have three girls; the middle has asd and adhd and learning difficulties, plus other needs.  I have a severely disabled brother and understand some of the problems families face.

I have contact with other parents who have children with additional needs, which has helped to understand.  I do listen a lot to what other families are going through, and would love the opportunity to make things better for all of us.

I have taken part in the Parent Participation Training course too, which has been of great benefit.

Medway Parents and Carers Forum are helping to represent the views of parents/carers . . . → Read More: SE7 Pathfinder In Medway]]> Medway has been chosen to work with six other south east areas (SE7) to be a Pathfinder for the potential reforms to the way that disabled young people, those with learning difficulties and other special educational needs are assessed and provided with support.

Medway Parents and Carers Forum are helping to represent the views of parents/carers as part of the Medway SE7 SEN Pathfinder Project, core elements include:

• a single education, health and care plan from birth to 25 years old, fousing on whether outcomes for disabled children and their parents have been improved
• personal bugets for parents of disabled children and those with SEN so they can have some choice in which services best suit the needs of their children
• strong partnership between all local services and agencies working together to help disabled children and those with SEN
• improved commissioning, particularly through links to health reforms
• the role of voluntary and community sector organisations and parents in a new system
• the cost of reform.

For more information on the pathfinder come to our AGM and information morning

web links to SE7 and Medway Council on our links page under these headings

Medway SEND Pathfinder

SE7 Pathfinder

Is there anything you can suggest to improve the service?

HAVE YOUR SAY – School Transport Q and A Groups

Medway Parents and Carers Forum in partnership with Medway Council have organised two informal meetings on the subject of school and college transport. We want . . . → Read More: SEN School Transport]]> Are you happy with the transport provided for your children?

Is there anything you can suggest to improve the service?

HAVE YOUR SAY – School Transport Q and A Groups

Medway Parents and Carers Forum in partnership with Medway Council have organised two informal meetings on the subject of school and college transport. We want to hear from as many parents and carers of young disabled people or additional support needs who use transport provided by Medway Council as possible.

We have arranged a morning and an evening event, which will be attended by representatives from Medway Council, so that everyone can have the opportunity to attend and suggest ideas and raise concerns.

What is important to us is gaining a full cross section of views and experiences. We need parents and carers of children and young people with all types of disability, age and cultural groups to express their views.

If you are unable to attend and would like further information or leave comments, please e-mail medwaypcf@googlemail.com or comment on our facebook page medway parents and carers forum

Here is the online link to our survey

http://kwiksurveys.com/?s=OBKHNN_a0fd1f6b