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Parenting services support parents and in turn engage more effectively with their children to improve outcomes. This theme explores ways of involving parents in decisions about the parenting and family support services – enabling them to influence the way they are shaped.
The Parenting support guidance for local authorities in England (October 2006, DfES) states that listening and responding to parents’ views is an important aspect of developing and delivering effective parenting support services. It gives examples which include establishing parent forums, involving mothers and fathers in reviewing services and in decision-making about services.
This message is continued in Every parent matters (2007), which says that engaging parents effectively means giving them the means to influence the shape of services.
Aiming High for Children: Supporting families (March 2007), highlighted evidence that services which involve users in their design and implementation are more likely to succeed with those they are trying to help.
At a national level too, we have set up a Parents Panel to better reflect a full cross-section of parental opinion in government policy making. The panel meets quarterly with ministers and department officials and is made up of 40 parents from all walks of life from around England. The panel has discussed a wide range of issues including: how parents can better work in partnership with schools to support their children’s education; the key issues affecting family stability; and parents’ views of the support available to them, for example through schools.
Below are the resources developed in this theme - or you can return to the main PIP page here.
Associated documents
Parental participation in the commissioning matrix
(105.0Kb)
Presents some of the wide range of methods for involving mothers and fathers at various stages in the commissioning process.
Case study and checklist for engaging vulnerable parents in the commissioning process
(651.4Kb)
Describes how a voluntary sector organisation was commissioned by London Borough of Sutton to consult with vulnerable parents about how they would like to be involved in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of services. Includes a checklist to help others seeking to engage vulnerable parents in commissioning processes.
Mothers, fathers and carers participation: self assessment tool for services and practitioners
(973.1Kb)
Helps front line staff measure the extent to which mothers, fathers and carers are involved in services, and to plan actions to improve involvement. Produced by Kent County Council.
Standards for the involvement of mothers, fathers and carers, with self assessment and planning form
(1.1Kb)
Contains standards for the effective involvement of mothers, fathers and carers in all aspects of planning, delivery and evaluation of services for children and young people. These are followed by a self assessment and planning tool for services to evidence the extent to which the Standards are in place, and to plan actions to address identified deficits. Produced by Islington Council.
Case Study: Developing a shadow strategic board for parents and carers
(561.3Kb)
Describes how Nottingham County Council established a shadow strategic board for parents and carers to put them at the heart of ECM arrangements.
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Last updated on 08/06/2009
