Parent Action Connects

Independent Advocacy Service for Parent Careers

Parent action connects Independent Advocacy is all about listening to a person and then supporting them

to take control and have their voice heard. Parent Action uses a peer advocacy model, which is all about people supporting people who are having similar experiences. Parent Action Independent Family Advocates are parent carers and peers, trained and experienced in Independent Advocacy.

Parent Action Connects uses a peer advocacy model(The Parent Action Model ©) which is all about people helping people who are having similar experiences.

Parent Action Connects independent family advocates are parent carers and peers, trained and experience in indpenedent advocacy for adults (OCN Level 3 qualified).

Enables

PARENT ACTION Enables parent carers to have their voice heard for their child's human rights in vital public services, enabling all children to access, early and safely, early education and childcare, school, community health care, social care and direct payments, play and leisure opportunities, jobs and training, in their local communities.

Empowers

PARENT ACTION Empowers parent carers and public service professionals and teams, to advocate effectively for the human rights of children and adults with additional needs/disabilities, into vital public services.

Advocates

PARENT ACTION Supports parent carers and public service professionals and teams to advocate effectively for safety and continuous quality improvement in vital public services to children and adults with additional needs/disabilities.

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• PARENT ACTION CONNECTS independent advocacy service for parent carers, is concerned with working from a person-centred perspective i.e. the individual with disabilities/additional needs/parent carer, is ALWAYS in control of the advocacy process, including terminating it.

• PARENT ACTION CONNECTS is independent from PUBLIC service providers meaning we can promote the wishes and feelings of the individual PARENT CARER, without being restricted by conflicts of interest.

View and download our Parent Action Connect info leaflet by clicking Here

    Parent Action Connects Do’s

  • Plan from the individual with disabilities/parent carers definition of the problem.
  • Work towards an acceptable outcome for the individual/ parent carer.
  • Provide and signpost/source information, to enable the individual/parent carer, to make an informed decision.
  • Help the individual with disabilities/parent carer to explore their options and potential outcomes of particular courses of action without bias.
  • Work towards an acceptable outcome for the individual with disabilities/parent carer.
  • Recognise the person as having the most specialised knowledge of their children, their life, views, wishes and feelings.
  • Work to ensure the needs of the individual with disabilities/parent carer, are not absorbed into the needs of others.

    Parent Action Connects Dont’s

  • Seek to influence the person’s decisions or persuade them to take/not take a particular course of action.
  • Take a view of the best interests of the person or any third parties (e.g. carers, service providers etc)
  • Make decisions on behalf of a person without checking with the individual what they want to happen.

Parent Action Connects Independent Family Advocates role is primarily about supporting a person to be heard.

Our Independent Family Advocates Provide Support to Parent Carers by:
  • Listening, Facilitating dialogue and building healthful relationships between the individual/parent carer and public service providers. Enabling the individual/parent carer to write letters/emails. Empowering individuals/parent carers in making phone calls Enabling individuals/parent carers to access information and make informed choices for themselves and for their children.
  • Enabling and empowering individuals/parent carers to prepare for and effectively participate in support and meetings with family, friends and public service providers. Providing emotional support. Enabling and empowering individuals to make complaints and follow up and support them through complaints processes.
  • Enabling and empowering parent carers and individuals with disabilities/lifelong health conditions, to connect with other people who are having similar experiences, for friendship support and to build a collective voice for change. Enabling and supporting individuals and parent carers, to improve their employability through experience and training and in advocating for other parent carers, if they wish.
OUR PARTNERS IN PARENT ACTION CONNECTS CARERS NI