Job Description

Engagement and Development Worker 15 hours per week flexible  £10 per hour plus expenses. Funded for 6 months initially and expected to continue for a further 6 months. 25 days leave pro rata

Trafford Parents Forum are looking for an individual seeking a new and exciting challenge to enhance our engagement and support of parent carers of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  (SEND) children and young people.You will have some experience of engagement or development work, and an understanding of disability, additional needs and SEN support. A working knowledge of the SEND code of practice is desirable but training will be given. You need an understanding of the barriers that parent carers face and know of the various services available for disabled children and young people in Trafford.

The successful candidate must be committed to user involvement, empowerment and have excellent communication skills.

Trafford Parents Forum work with many Partner organisations including Trafford Council. You will be liaising and co working with the Local Authority SEND Outreach Officer.

You must have excellent ICT skills and experience of using computerised systems and a wide range of software packages such as Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook.

Any appointment made to this role will be subject to the appointable candidate being vetted by the DBS.

Job description and purpose of the post:

• Supporting and empowering Trafford Parent Carers through engagement and participation
• Increasing the membership, capacity and reach of the Forum – especially from under represented areas
• Liaising and co working with the Local Authority SEND Outreach Officer

Parent Participation

• Provision of support and development of volunteers
• Promotion and publicity of consultations, training and events
• Supporting ‘Experts by Experience’ peer to peer support initiative

Voice

• Gathering views of parents and issues and concerns relating to their own, and their families support needs, in relation to the policy and practice of services for disabled children/young people
• Ensuring those views are fed into The Parents Forum and other key agencies when required
• Supporting parents to effectively articulate their own views directly

Engagement Activities

• Creative engagement with families in unrepresented ethnic groups and postcodes
• Organising and delivering parent engagement activities and event such as a weekly drop in/coffee morning
• Networking with other development agencies, parent carer groups, the voluntary sector and statutory organisations
• Signposting/providing information and advice for parent carers

General

• Administration, publicity and promotion
• Maintaining appropriate and proportionate project records
• Develop good working relationships with public, statutory and voluntary sector colleagues

Being a parent carer of a child with special needs can be a lonely, demanding and frustrating experience. We believe it is vital that parent/carers have a voice about their child’s education, health and social care. The Parents Forum works in partnership with parents and professionals in the key areas that affect them and their children.

Strengthening parent carer engagement and participation to get the best possible service, will result in good outcomes for the children and young people with SEND in Trafford.