Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum

Recognised and supported by the Department for Education (DfE) under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2015)

LPCF is specifically tasked with working alongside the Local Authority and Health to help ensure that the services they plan, commission, deliver and monitor meet the needs of children with Disabilities and Special Educational Needs.

More About LPCF

The Charity

The Charity is an independent members organisation overseen by a members elected group of Trustees who are mostly parents and carers of children with disabilities and/or Special Educational Needs.

The Volunteer Trustees and Volunteers are responsible for communicating and supporting parent carers and professionals, to participate with strategic decision makers and represent the views of the large membership of parents and carers.

Membership

The membership consists of Trustees, Volunteers and Members and also a professional contact list of individuals and organisations.

We continue to enjoy a membership of 4000+ parent carers and additionally have a contact list for 900+ professionals and 700+ education settings / organisations, all of whom we try to keep fully informed of our work and opportunities.

Who LPCF work with?

Our main remit is to collect, collate and represent the views of parent carers from a variety of sources.
The information is used as evidence to feedback to service providers with a view to improve the quality, range and accessibility of services.

Work with Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) and Health to represent parents' views and experiences.
Provide a supportive "critical friend" relationship with LCC and Health.
Publish a “State of SEND” survey every two years and feedback the findings to provide evidence of what is working and what needs to be improved.
Help ensure policy, practice and documentation are parent friendly
Work with the DFE and National Network of Parent Carer Forums.
LPCF are the Parents voice.

Graphical representation of where LPCF sit between parents and service

Working with parents

LPCF provide an experienced, supportive ear for parents, to promote their skills, knowledge and resilience.

Free LPCF membership gives parents access to:

Facebook page for parents only, with information and peer support.
Regular, evidence based reports of parents views and feedback.
Regular 'Time2Talk' meetings or coffee meetings.
Signposting for parents of children with SEND to services and professionals.
Signposting events for parents and professionals, including the “Week of SEND”.
Workshops on specific issues for parents, requested by members.
Wellbeing support and resilience building.
Additional one-off benefits, including Max Cards (subject to eligibility criteria)

Working with professionals

LPCF are the main means of communication between parents and professionals.
Keep professionals informed of key updates and events for themselves and parents.
Signpost parents to support services, freeing up professional's time.
Setting visits to explain LPCF's role to staff or parents.
Being actively linked with LPCF can help evidence commitment of engagement and participation for OFSTED and CQC.
Promoting the innovative and positive work surrounding SEND in Lincolnshire at regional and national levels, including DfE and government feedback.

What LPCF do not do

Not here to fill a gap in service/s
We are NOT in the pocket of the LA (we are fiercely independent)
A campaign / protest group (our charity / grant conditions forbid this)
A support group - although we do provide lots of signposting / workshops and bring people together to network and learn
Cannot advocate on individual cases (though we absolutely do want to hear your experiences and can raise those with providers of services)
An advice service. (check out the LCC Local offer and Liaise who provide free legal advice to Lincs parents)

When we meet a challenging issue, we will work cooperatively together with planners, commissioners and providers of services to imagine, design and deliver better services.

Volunteering

Aside from the voluntary work of the above Trustees, the Charity has an excellent team of several Volunteers who have a wide range of skills and who have worked tirelessly to support the Charity to achieve its goals and aims of serving parent carers on our membership.

Each year the volunteer Trustees and other Volunteers freely give almost 4000 hours of their time including attending 300+ meetings (800+ hours) for the benefit of our members.