New charter will help shape support for young people
A new charter has been launched to ensure that children, young people and families in Wolverhampton can help shape support services.
Wolverhampton Council's Children and Families Together Board's new co-production charter is a set of values and ways of working that organisations across the city have signed up to.
The charter has been developed with the involvement of parents, carers and a number of experienced groups who regularly work alongside young people.
Sarah Baker, co-chair of Voice4Parents, which represents parents and carers of young people with SEND, said: "It was great to hear such strong and positive messages about co-production and how important it is that families are central to discussions and decisions about their own individual support and in shaping and developing services for the wider community.
"Part of Voice4Parents' role will be to ensure partners who have signed up to the charter are demonstrating how they are fulfilling this promise and the difference it is making to people’s lives."
The charter was launched last week at an event to officially unveil Wolverhampton's new youth engagement strategy, #YES.
Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Our new youth engagement strategy, the strong partnership between the council and health services and the family centred services provided at places like the GEM Centre are just a few.
"With the launch of our co-production charter we are now saying that this approach should be the norm, with everyone working together as equal partners.
"It will take time for us all to always live up to the principles we aspire to, but the charter will enable us to work better together to deliver improved services and outcomes for our city's families and young people."
A further event is planned to give families the opportunity to find out more about the importance of working together through co-production.
A range of support will also be put in place to support families, young people and professionals to work together, including toolkits, how to guides and training.
