Engaging children¸young people¸ parents and carers

Shropshire Council has a corporate commitment to community and customer engagement, and are committed to the Every Child Matters: Change for Children agenda where children, young people and their families must be involved in shaping their services.

Shropshire Children’s Trust has developed a vision and a statement of commitment following extensive consultation with schools, partner agencies, practitioners, parents, carers, children and young people. The Trust will ensure that children and young people’s needs and views in respect of access to transport, play and youth facilities, improved housing etc influence wider strategic planning.

In Shropshire, four ISA Co-ordinators have an ongoing role to ensure the involvement of children and young people in service design and development. They work with Lead Professionals in determining the wishes and feelings of children and young people. They also work closely and learn from Connexions, as they share their good practice in engaging young people in their assessment process. As a result, services have improved through this engagement.

Instruments have been devised for seeking the views of children and young people within the Council. A child-friendly Team Around the Child (TAC) plan has been developed with children to actively include them in the Information Sharing and Assessment process. Team Around the Child invites have been developed with the assistance by children from Broseley Church of England School. The children, aged between 6-11 years of age, wanted their own invite instead of receiving a letter which was “plain and boring”.

The TAC (Team Around the Child) worksheets have been designed to allow children and young people to 'have a voice' in the TAC when they don't want to attend. The Lead Professional or a member of the TAC can approach the child prior the TAC meeting to gain their views which can be shared with professionals at the TAC. Children who attend West Felton Primary School and a young person from Ludlow Youth Centre helped to design the worksheets.