The vision around developing the group was to increase the involvement of Parents and Carers within the mainstream Children’s Residential system with the aim of improving overall outcomes for our young people in our care. Often when young people leave Children’s Homes they return home to their parents. We hoped to develop a group which is supportive of parents and carers, whilst also developing opportunities for Parents and Carers to participate and influence developments in our system. Prior to the delivery of the pilot there had never been a group to involve parents and carers who interface with the Children’s Residential system.
In beginning of the journey the Team completed the Trust’s PPI training and set about establishing a project group, mapping out the key drivers of the project. Internally conversations were had with our Senior Management and Residential Management Teams, all of whom were, and continue to be, supportive of the project. A key point in the early journey was the learning we gained through support from a colleague in the Youth Justice Agency (YJA) – who have a well-established and enduring parent’s group. We heard about their group, what works for them and what barriers we might face- child care and transport being two key considerations. The YJA Parents were generous with their time and talked to us about their experiences of the group and their ideas for us to consider. We prepared an outline to use for exploration with potential group participants.
We reached out again to Residential Colleagues at this stage, to identify potential group members and, crucially, were supported by them with the initial calls to parents and carers. We believe the relationships our colleagues already have helped us reach people. Those expressing any interest were then followed up by the project team with phone calls and/or visits. We gathered ideas, shared our thinking, informed by what the YJA group had told us, and explored the possibilities. Some group members would acknowledge they were mistrustful of us at this stage and into the early meetings which we subsequently held.
In April 2024 we delivered an ‘open night’ which was attended by 9 parents and carers. We agreed a ‘programme’ based on all of the conversations we’d had.
We sought space, planned transport, ordered some food, arranged child care and the group was formed.
Since then we have delivered four ‘programmes’ – a programme is around eight weeks, delivering one evening a week with breaks taken in a ‘term time’ pattern. There’s variety- information sharing, educational pieces and self-care activities. The group voice what they want to hear about or an activity they would like to do. We’ve heard from a Therapeutic Crisis Intervention trainer, a Psychologist, an OT, a Speech & Language Therapist, VOYPIC, had Q&A opportunities with Senior Managers, talked about Trust Structures, had art classes, made pizza, been to pottery and learned a little about aromatherapy!
Within the group, we contract regularly, review regularly, both informally and using surveys. Then as a team we meet to review the feedback and plan next steps.
In survey feedback the group members are consistently scoring the group sessions and experiences – on average the satisfaction ratings currently sit at more than 9 out of 10. A steady group of 4 has grown to a steady group if 7 or 8 every week, with 9 participants currently known. One Mum has attended all 33 sessions.
The group have been involved in a workshop where they were advisors on the development of a ‘social care charter’ which is being developed regionally- without the group it’s unlikely any of our parents or carers would have been consulted.
If concerns are voiced regards a difficulty with a Children’s Home, it’s communicated with those Managers and our parents and carers have expressed satisfaction regards the opportunity to have concerns addressed and resolved easily.
A number of the parents have shared anecdotal evidence of how they have used their learning with their children, and in particular, they’ve felt improved communication has been the result.
What we hear loudly is the Social Services system is very difficult for parents to navigate. Making a complaint is too frightening. Relationships between parents our system can be fractious.
In feedback regards the group people say:
- “Breaks down the them and us”
- “You are investing in your child”
- “It took a wee while to feel comfortable”
- “More confidence in social services”
- “The support. Peer support, Honesty, Trust.”
- “It needs to run continuously”
- “I think it’s helped my anxiety, as I was not good at meeting new people”
- “Because of the shame I feel because of the situation with SS (social services) I too quickly find reasons to shut myself in the house. So coming here gives me a healthy push to socialise & stay out of my head for a while.”
We know there’s regional work underway around parental advocacy, with a course launching in UU, Magee in September 2025 and we look forward to seeing this come to fruition. Perhaps, one day, one of our group will think about training and will support another parent navigate the system.
