Parent Carers

Fact Sheets for Parent Carers

Parent Carers Views

Parent Carer Action Group

Organisations and Contacts of Use to Parent Carers

Carers of Adults with Learning Disability

Young Carers

Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database

Hertfordshire Children's Trust Partnership (external link)

If you are the parent of a child who has a
physical or learning disability
you are first and foremost a parent.

However, we recognise that as a parent
in these circumstances you often find
yourself with extra caring responsibilities
and you are, therefore, also a "parent carer".

How we can help:

Involvement:

We believe that the development of services for children with disabilities and their families must be based on listening to what parents have to say. Our participation work therefore aims to enable parents of children with disabilities to give their views directly to the people who plan and decide about the provision of services.

We do this by:

	Keeping in touch by post and email with interested parent carers, providing regular update information and inviting them to give their views.
	Arranging for representative parent carers to take part in county council consultation meetings.
	Bringing parents together in a Parent Carer Action Group to share experiences, discuss what they want to say and put this to relevant people from health and social care services. See Carers Calendar for dates of meetings.
	Working with Hertfordshire County Council to develop improved systems for involving parents.
	Being part of the Parent and Voluntary Advisory Group (PaVAG) which acts as a consultative group within Children, Schools and Families and includes Parent Carers representing Support Groups...(more about PaVAG).
	Supporting the parent carer representative on the Hertfordshire Children's Trust Partnership Board. Hertfordshire Children's Trust Partnership for more information.

If you are a parent carer and would like to be involved please contact our Participation Worker on 01442 253344 or email west.team@carersinherts.org.uk

Information

Our local support workers can tell you about:

	Who to contact for specialist information about your child's illness or disability.
	Local and national services which may be able to support you and your child.
	How to arrange a benefits check or apply for grants and funding.

	Holidays, breaks and respite care
	Local events relevant to your role as a parent carer.
	How to register your child on the Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database (HAND)

Support

They can also:

	Help you to have your caring needs recognised.
	Tell you about legislation and policies which support you in your caring role.
	Advise on how to get an assessment of your own needs and those of your child.
	Talk through an individual enquiry and make suggestions for ways forward.
	Help you to express your views on the services you receive.

Contact us through any of Carers in Hertfordshire's offices.

Page last updated: 16/06/2008

Carers in Hertfordshire. A Company Limited by Guarantee.
Registered Company Number413036 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity Number 1085491
Registered Office: Hertfordshire Carers Centre, The Red House,
119 Fore Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1AX

Parent Carers

If you are the parent of a child who has a physical or learning disability you are first and foremost a parent.

However, we recognise that as a parent in these circumstances you often find yourself with extra caring responsibilities and you are, therefore, also a "parent carer".

Contact us through any of Carers in Hertfordshire's offices.

If you are the parent of a child who has a
physical or learning disability
you are first and foremost a parent.

However, we recognise that as a parent
in these circumstances you often find
yourself with extra caring responsibilities
and you are, therefore, also a "parent carer".