Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum (NPCF) is run by, and for, parent carers.
The Steering Group helps guide and support the work of the forum, alongside trustees, and staff.
Steering Group Members are parent carers from across Nottinghamshire County. They bring a range of lived experiences, including children and young people of different ages, additional needs and/or disabilities, and different types of educational support.
Their lived experience is valuable, but their role is wider than sharing their own family situation. Steering Group Members help NPCF listen to parent carers more widely, identify common themes and make sure a broad range of family experiences are reflected in the forum’s work.
Because Nottinghamshire is a large county, NPCF aims to include Steering Group Members from different areas where possible. This helps the forum hear from families across the county, including:
- North – Bassetlaw
- South – Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe
- East – Newark and Sherwood
- Central – Ashfield and Mansfield
What the Steering Group does
The Steering Group meets regularly to help guide the work of NPCF.
This may include:
- planning engagement work
- considering feedback from parent carers
- supporting NPCF’s role in local SEND improvement work
- helping to identify themes from what families share
- supporting different areas of the forum’s activity
- discussing forum priorities
Steering Group Members may also attend meetings with local and regional services, where they share wider parent carer themes and anonymised feedback gathered through NPCF’s engagement work.
“I got involved with NPCF as I want to make things better for others in a similar situation to me. NPCF gave me a chance to have ‘my say’ and have my voice heard by local authorities, health and the Government about how I’d like things to work”
How NPCF is structured
Trustees, who have overall responsibility for the charity
Forum Lead, who manages the day-to-day work of NPCF
Steering Group Members, who help guide the forum’s work and support the different areas of activity
Bookkeeper, who supports the forum’s finances
As a registered charity, NPCF has policies and procedures that guide how it works. Everyone involved with the forum is expected to uphold these standards.
Joining the Steering Group
When a vacancy arises on the Steering Group, the opportunity is shared through NPCF’s community networks.
Steering Group Members need to be able to work as part of a team, listen to a range of views, support positive relationships and communicate respectfully with families, services and partners.
Anyone joining the Steering Group will receive induction, support and training linked to their role.
“I joined NPCF because I wanted to make a difference and felt very strongly that you shouldn’t just complain about things but should try to alter them”.
If you are interested in becoming a Steering Group Member, please keep an eye out for future recruitment opportunities.
Contact us
If you would like to know more about how NPCF works, or would like to invite NPCF to speak with a local group, school or organisation, please get in touch through our contact form.
As all Steering Group Members are parent carers themselves, they may sometimes need to prioritise their own family’s needs. This can occasionally lead to delays in responding to messages. Thank you for your patience.
If you would like to send a message, share your experience or tell us about a difficulty, please get in touch through our contact form.
