Company Description
Wakefield Parent Carer Forum is an independent community focused organisation that brings together parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in the Wakefield area. The forum works in partnership with local services, schools, and health and social care providers to ensure families’ voices are heard in planning and decision-making. It offers regular meetings, events, and consultations to gather feedback and share information with families. The forum aims to improve services, promote inclusion, and support better outcomes for children, young people, and their families. Parent carers play an active role in shaping priorities and influencing positive change across the local area.
Role Description
Parent Carer Representatives play a vital role in the work of Wakefield Parent Carer Forum by promoting the voice and lived experiences of families across the Wakefield district. They develop positive and constructive working relationships with other parents and professionals to find solutions to improve support and local services.
The Parent Carer Representative role is to represent the wider parent voice in all its complexity. This role will form part of a small team working across the district under supervision from the Parent Carer Representative Co-Cordinator. Parent Carer Representatives are objective and focus on the collective view of parents, putting their own personal circumstances or situation to one side.
Main Tasks, Duties & Responsibilities
The role of a Parent Carer Representative can be varied so flexibility is essential. The following represents the range of tasks, duties and responsibilities you may undertake within this role.
- Promote the involvement of parent carers and champion parent voice.
- Attend meetings with service providers to share the experience collected.
- Work on projects to shape resources including training modules, leaflets.
- Work on service redesign projects to ensure they meet local needs based on feedback.
- Contribute to the collection of feedback and experiences of families.
- Work as part of the team to organise and run events and training.
- Completing a report for each meeting, workstream or event attended.
- Host SEND Coffee & Chat Sessions in schools to further develop positive working relationships between WPCF, parent carers and schools.
- Signpost to relevant services & promote WPCF.
- Assist SEND parent carers to register and become WPCF members.
- Attend partnership meetings to share parent carer voice & provide project updates as needed.
- To undertake such duties as may be required in accordance with changing organisational objectives.
Qualifications/Experience
- Experience of working with parent carers and/or a good understanding of issues affecting their caring roles.
- Good listening skills.
- Ability to build relationships quickly with parents, carers & professionals.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to be objective & focus on the wider collective view of parent carers, putting their own personal circumstances to one side.
- Friendly, open & honest.
- Willingness to work with others in a solution focused way.
- Skilled in networking & developing positive partnerships.
- Well developed interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate with professionals, colleagues & parent carers.
- Knowledge of local SEND services & their roles (desireable).
- Ability to motivate & inspire families.
- Act in a professional manner at all times
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the need of the role.
- Full driving licence & access to a vehicle.
- Ability to travel around the Wakefield district.
- Undergo an enhanced DBS check.
- Willing to undertake training to fulfill role as required.
Contract
This is a temporary contract until end of December 2026, with a possibility of an extension for the right candidates. There will be a 3 month probation period from the start date of employment.
Ready to make a difference?
To apply, please email outlining your experience and how you meet the job description requirements to - [email protected]
For questions or to discuss the role, contact us at the email above.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Pay: £15.00 per hour
Work Location: On the road
