Paid & Voluntary Opportunities - Parent Carers Together

Paid Opportunities

PINS/Autism in Schools Project Worker- we have 2 positions available. This is will be a 7 month fixed term contract commencing from this September through to March 2025. The successful candidates will be representing Parent Carers Together to work in Partnership in Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS)/Autism in Schools (AiS).

The expectation will be for the appointed persons to work 8 hours a week, with the possibility of increasing hours to 16 hours a week with prior agreement.

Background-

Parent Carers Together (PCT), along with Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB) have received funding through the Partnership for Inclusion and Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) from the Department for Education (DFE) and NHS England (NHSE). This will enable us to continue and expand the Autism in Schools project at primary schools across BCP. Parent carer experience and co-production is at the heart of the project to work with the schools identified to better support the needs of autistic children and young people (CYP). It aims to improve the school environment, relationships between staff, parents and CYP and early intervention.

Job purpose-

Parent carers and their experiences are at the heart of the project. The project worker will work with parents and staff in the participating schools to set up parent groups and seek parents’ views on how to improve support in schools. This will include working with staff across health and education.

Main duties-

Organise and facilitate the development of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) mini forums/parent groups in schools to improve relationships between parents and staff and to develop parent school champions.
Offer peer support and signposting advice
Write meeting notes and circulate to parents and school staff
Organise follow-up meetings with schools to discuss the parent feedback
Build positive relationships with school staff
Remain a consistent point of contact for parents, school staff and health professionals
Plan and schedule tasks, review progress and report to PCT project lead
Complete reports as requested
Attend steering group and regional meetings as requested

Application closing date will be 5th July 2024 and the interviews will be held on 10th July 2024.

Our Current Volunteer Opportunities

As a small organisation with limited resources, we depend on the help of volunteers, If you feel you could offer some time and skills in networking, gathering feedback, publicity, marketing, running events or indeed anything else you feel you could offer Parent Carers Together, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for volunteers for the roles listed below. Please fill out the parent carer volunteer expression of interest online form and we will be in touch.

Steering Group (amended March 2023)
Parent Rep (amended March 2023)
Outreach (amended March 2023)
Parent Panel (amended March 2023)

Volunteer Week 2024

2024 National Volunteers’ Week was held between 3^rd-9^th June. The week always starts each year from the first Monday in June. This year, Volunteers’ week celebrated 40 years, having first been established in 1984, known back then as Volunteering England.

So, what is Volunteers’ Week? It is a week to celebrate the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK.

As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve the wellbeing of volunteers too. It can feel good helping someone else out. Volunteering can also help you gain new skills and experiences, boost your confidence and self-esteem and build friendships.

Parent Carers Together thanked everyone who volunteers their time as either a parent rep or steering group member, without our volunteers the forum simply would not exist!