During October and November, the team at Children in Northern Ireland moved to the second phase of their engagement with parents and carers. While previously supporting groups of parents and carers to get together to speak about their experiences of social care CiNI have recently been facilitating direct engagement with Professor Jones.
CiNI have had five such meetings including parents and carers who have been involved in the justice system; those who have experienced violence at home; mothers who have had their children removed into care; a forum for parents and carers who work in partnership with Trust staff to help improve and develop services for families; and adoptive parents.
CiNI have continued to support parents and carers to attend and contribute to meetings of the Professor’s Advisory Panel.
CiNI have been particularly pleased to support parents to attend thematic workshop events, organised by the review secretariat. Parents and carers greatly appreciated the opportunity to work alongside children and young people, frontline practitioners, managers, policy makers and academics. The events proved to be lively, enjoyable and informative. Parents and carers were particularly pleased to engage directly with Professor Jones and his team. They had the opportunity to hear and respond to some of Professor Jones initial ideas for improving social care services for children here.