How Hackney consults with parents and carers of children with SEND and young people themselves

Advice page content

We are committed to taking a person-centered approach to working with parents and young people. We are always willing to discuss any concerns with you.

In addition to this, we actively seek to work with Parent/Carer and Youth Forums and other participation groups who we see as experts by experience on how support and services for those with SEND are working, what is going well, and what needs to change. 


Feedback and comments on services

Parents, carers, young people, and others can comment individually on services via their Local Offer website service entry.

They will need to sign in and make an account on the Local Offer website to do this.

We are not required to publish "vexatious comments" but information on experiences of services will be fed back to service leads. 

Comments that describe positive experiences help services provide more of that kind of support. 


Person-centered Annual Reviews 

Hackney seeks the views and opinions of children and young people with SEND and their parents individually at a child or young person’s annual review.


Consultations and engagement opportunities

Regular focus groups, consultations, and engagement opportunities take place and can be found here and on the Hackney Council website

The groups and processes for hearing from parents and young people in Hackney are detailed below. 

Hackney's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

As a borough one of the ways Hackney seeks to understand the needs of it's population is through the City and Hackney health and wellbeing profile (joint strategic needs assessment - JSNA) which provides a detailed description of the health and wellbeing needs of the local population. 

It provides a 'big picture' of local needs, ranging from the social and environmental conditions which shape health and wellbeing through to the specific illnesses and conditions from affecting local people.

There is a dedicated website that provides further information on this process and it's findings.

Find out more: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/jsna

Hackney Captains

Hackney Captains is a youth council for young people with additional needs set up to give feedback about Hackney Ark health services (including Physio, OT, SLT, Community Paediatrics, Audiology, CAMHS, First Steps, Community Nursing, Keyworking etc) and help to make changes that make the services better for young people. 

We really enjoyed our last meeting and we’re looking forward to hearing what they have to say next. We meet 4 times a year and would welcome new young people to the group. 

It’s a great experience for young people to add to their  CV. They get free pizza AND they get to make Hackney Ark better for other young people!

Who is it for? 

Hackney Captains is open to any young person aged 13-19 who is or has been known to any Hackney Ark service. Young People are welcome to attend alone or with a friend/family member if they would like this.

Although we can’t provide 1:1 support, the venue is accessible and we will have speech and language therapist attending and able to offer support on the day.

To find out more please contact Vicky, Yvonne, Rowan or Aria

 e-mail: huh-tr.hackneyarkcaptains@nhs.net

02070147025

Hackney Ark, Downs Park Road, E8 2FP

Young Hackney

Young Hackney is the boroughs service for all young people aged 8-19 (up to 25 with SEND)

Young Hackney aims to help all of the boroughs young people enjoy being young and become independent and successful adults.

Young Hackney units (small teams) help to:

• run youth clubs, centres and projects
• provide opportunities, support and guidance for young people
• help young people get involved in their communities

 

They also run several youth participation projects to help young people get more involved in their communities. 

Young Hackney centres:

Thanks to “myplace” funding, the Hackney Council has been able to invested £5m in five new youth centres, one in each of the borough's neighbourhoods, linked to a brand new iconic building at Forest Road.

Each centre has a nominated specialism, chosen by young people.

• Arts and performance - Young Hackney Hoxton Hall

• Enterprise - Young Hackney The Edge

• IT and media - Young Hackney Stoke Newington

• Sports and healthy living - Young Hackney Concorde

• Youth leadership - Young Hackney Forest Road

Each centre has a Young Hackney unit on site to advise young people on:

  • education,
  • training
  • employment
  • health
  • relationships matters

Find out more: Young Hackney 

Hackney Area Youth Forums

The four Area Youth Forums are for young people to meet and discuss local and youth issues. Anyone aged 11-19 can join their local forum as long as they can come to one meeting every week after school, college or work.

Youth forums help to:

  • develop new skills
  • gain qualifications
  • enjoy new experiences
  • improve CV’s
  • make a difference to the community

Hackney Youth Parliament

The Hackney Youth Parliament has 24 members who are elected every two years and represent the area they live in.

Youth Parliament acts as:

• the voice of and represents the views of young people in Hackney

• consults young people in Hackney on their views

• is involved in decision-making with the Council and Councillors

• has an impact and makes a positive change

• keeps young people in Hackney informed on matters affecting them

For information about the Youth Parliament visit Young Hackney's website:

https://www.younghackney.org/get-involved/hackney-youth-parliament/

Hackney Youth Parliament contact:

Mandy Richards

E-mail: mandy.richards@hackney.gov.uk

Phone: 020 8356 5433

Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund

Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund is a projects where young people can apply for up to £5,000 to fund an event or project in their local area.

Find out more: Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund

Children in Care Council - Hackney Gets Heard

The Hackney Gets Heard Children in Care Council represents the views of children and young people in care.

It is currently made up of eight young people, mainly care-leavers.

Their role is to ensure the promises made within Hackney's 'Pledge to Looked-after Children' are kept.

The Children in Care Council is responsible for working with the looked-after children's services, ensuring that all children and young people in care receive a quality service.

Leaflet available in the download section of this page. 

Contact the Participation Manager on: 07772 227 319

Youth Provider Networks

The four youth provider networks give organisations, projects and services in the borough the best chance to influence policy and decision-making regarding youth provision.

Find out more: Hackney’s youth charter explains how Hackney makes sure that the views of children and young people are heard and included in making decisions

Find out more: The Hackney promise to looked-after children

CAMHS (Child and Adolesent Mental Health Service) :

CAMHS run regular participation groups for young people and parent so they can make their service responsive to the needs of those who use it.

They are always looking for parents, carers and young people to attend these sessions. 

Find out more: 0207 014 7071

Healthwatch Hackney

Healthwatch's mission is to improve health and social care provision and outcomes for people in Hackney.

They work to ensure that treatment and care is provided with respect and dignity, valuing diversity, encouraging participation and working together.

Healthwatch act as independent champion for residents and users ensuring that the voices of people across the borough are heard in order to influence decision makers.

Regular "Community Voices" sessions are help and consultation and coproduction events take place on specific topics. 

Find out more: Healthwatch Hackney

Other services for young people with SEND involved in consultations:

Transition Health Outreach Team have assisted young people to take part in consultations leading up to the implementation of the reforms.

The Children’s Disability Forum City and Hackney is a group commissioned by City ans Hackney CCG in response to consulatations with parents and young people.

Hackney SENDIAGS (SEND Information, Advice and Guidance Service) have run past and recent consultations with young people.

In addition to these Hackney Community College and BSix Brooke House 6th Form Colllege have groups of students who have taken part in consulting exercises.  


We are always interested in hearing from young people or parent carers willing to take part in specific work on consultations. Contact us here

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Page last modified: 10/10/2023