Parent Carers Views

This page was last edited: 29/04/2008

PARENT CARERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS

Carers in Hertfordshire was invited to present carers views about transition at a meeting of a Hertfordshire County Council Scrutiny Committee on 12th October 2006. This committee of county councillors has responsibility for looking at aspects of work in Adult Care and Children, Schools and Families, holding services to account for the ways policies and decisions are carried out in practice. The subject under discussion at this meeting was transition (the process of planning the move from children’s to adult services).

We used parent carers’ views on how the system is operating to compile a report.

The Scrutiny Meeting which was held at County Hall on Thursday 12 October was attended by Department Officers from Adult Care Services, Children Schools and Families and other Officers who are involved in Transition. The meeting consisted of presentations about transition arrangements in Children, Schools and Families and Adult Care Service, the work of Connexions, the college perspective and three services users gave their views.

Sue Reeve, Chief Executive of Carers in Hertfordshire, presented the report of carers’ views, and in addition, three parent carers spoke of their individual experiences of transition.

Natalie Rotherham, Scrutiny Officer, has commented that the elected members were very pleased at the content and outcome of the joint scrutiny. The Chairman felt it was a good example of what good scrutiny is all about – exploring an issue in depth, identifying the problems and arriving at ways of resolving them. She also commented that the contribution of carers provided real evidence of where improvements can be made. Natalie is working on the report of the findings and recommendations.

If anyone would like further information about the transition process or information about the Scrutiny Committee meeting contact Maria Kiely, Parent Carer Development Worker on 01442 253344 or west.team@carersinherts.org.uk