Parent Carer Voice

Parent Carer Voice

We are a group of Parent Carers who campaign for changes that will improve the lives of families living in Herefordshire who have a disabled child.

Click here to find out if you are a Parent Carer.

We want every Parent Carer to feel supported in their caring role and get the help they need, when they need it. We promote a greater understanding of what it means to be a Parent Carer by working with organisations such as:

• Healthwatch Herefordshire
• Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group
• Herefordshire Council
• HVOSS
• Wye Valley NHS Trust
• 2gether NHS Foundation Trust

Parent Carer Voice captures the collective learning of local Parent Carers and give their views a voice. We expect the professionals to come to meetings to discuss services rather than send one Parent Carer off to sit in on a ‘steering group’, because together our voice is louder. If you are a Parent Carer and you would like to join The Voice or come to a meeting you would be very welcome.

Meeting papers

Parent Carer Voice was part of a successful national campaign to improve the rights of Parent Carers to an assessment of their own needs, writing to members of the House of Lords including HCS Patron Baroness Pitkeathley. The Voice is a member of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums, which is supported by Contact a Family.Herefordshire Carers Support arranges training, provides administration support, takes notes, arranges venues & refreshments. Parent Carers can also claim travel and other expenses when attending these events.

In previous years Parent Carer Voice has campaigned for better information for families about the support that is available; more respite provision, also known as ‘short-breaks’; more open access activities for children and young people with a special educational needs; better understanding and recognition of what it means to be a Parent Carer.

Locally Parent Carer Voice is working closely on preparations for the Children and Families Act (2014) which came into effect in September 2014. The new law expects Local Authorities and Health Services to work with Parent Carers to design and improve services. Parent Carer Voice has organised several consultation and information events for Parent Carers, the most recent being a Parent Carer Information Event on 26 March 2014. Click here to link to report of the event. Further events are planned, email help@herefordshirecarerssupport.org to find out more.

Herefordshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board has this year (2015) signed the Disabled Childrens Charter for Health and Wellbeing Boards. To find out more about the Charter visit the Every Disabled Child Matters website.

Parent Carer Voice meets monthly during term time.

Below are links to our latest documents. If you would like hard copies of the minutes please contact help@herefordshirecarerssupport.org.

• Information Pack for Visitors to Parent Carer Voice 2015
• The Way We Work - updated September 2016
• Work plan for Parent Carer Support and Participation
• Expense Claim Form
• Participation Feedback and Remuneration Claim Form

The NNPCF Steering Group have today published their position statement on the White Paper for Education entitled ‘Educational Excellent Everywhere’ (Published 15 March 2026). The White Papers sets out the Governments vision for Education.

The Steering Group recognises that this paper has raised some anxiety on what this means for our Children and Young People with SEND. The Steering Group have provided a summary of the White Paper and key points that may have impact on our SEN&D community. Suggestions on how you take this message to the wider parent carer community and what can you do in your area, and a summary of the Steering Group thoughts and questions on the impact of the White Paper

The NNPCF Steering Group (3 May)

National Network of Parent Carer Forums National Priorities – 2015/16

In October last year over 80 parent carer forums attended the NNPCF AGM. Those who attended where asked to identify their most significant burning issues. As a result the Steering Group have collated and categorised the issues to form a set of national priorities that we have presented to the Minister Edward Timpson (Tuesday 15th March 2016) and to Minister Jane Allison (Wednesday 16th March 2016).

We have attached the national priorities which cover a broad range of subjects that clearly show the variety of areas that forums are engaging in. We recognise that some points raised have already been addressed or are in progress, you will also find that there are some issues that have been on the table for a long while. Our continued goal is to keep these priorities highlighted within the NNPCF, our national partners including government departments.

In light of the conversations we have had with Ministers we feel increasingly confident that your voice is being heard and that these priorities will continue to be part of the national agenda.

Kind regards, The NNPCF Steering Group

Coping with continence problems?

If your child is aged three or over, is having difficulties with continence and has additional needs or otherwise, please contact your health visitor, school nurse or GP for advice, support or treatment and to see if you are entitled to a supply of disposable nappies or pull ups.

Pads are prescribed and therefore require an assessment and regular reviews, to make sure the child’s needs are being met. Contacts, for the change of product / size have now sit within the school nursing team call 01432 363940 for more information.

If your child is aged 14-25 years, there is a service for adults, please asking your GP for a referral to this service.

As the result of Continence and Toileting issues being raised at the VOICE, Nicky Symonds contacted Herefordshire CCG and we are delighted that they have agreed to fund Carer Training offered by eric (Enuresis Resource Information Centre) on Tuesday 26 April 2025, 11am - 1pm at Herefordshire Carers Support, Berrows Business Centre, Bath Street, Hereford, HR1 2HE.

For more information and to book a place please call 01432 356068 or email help@herefordshirecarerssupport.org

The VOICE will continue to work with the CCG to plan and establish a more comprehensive, continence service. If you would like to be part of this work, please call 01432 356068.

Published 28 January 2026

Dear Parent Carer Forums

Please find attached the official notes from the Ministerial Round table held at the Department for Education on the 7th December 2015.

As you will be aware this was not an NNPCF event but two representatives, Maureen Morris and Kay Moore, from the steering group were invited along with a small group of parents some of whom were members of their local forums.

In addition to these points, many forums asked us to raise other points with the Minister and these were also sent to his office. The Minister has said that the points raised will be followed up and we will report back to you as soon as we can.

Kind regards, The NNPCF

17 December 2025

Click to access:

• Herefordshire’s Local Offer
• Herefordshire Council’s ‘Children with disabilities and special needs’ page
• Herefordshire children with disabilities transformation programme 2015-18
• Independent Support Service in Herefordshire
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Education, Health and Care Plan
• Herefordshire Carers Support’s Facebook or Twitter
• NNPCF Position Statment - EU Referendum
• Contact a Family West Midlands E Bulletin
  • November/December 2015 West Midlands
  • July 2016 E Bulletin