A group amplifying the voices of families in child protection cases is inviting parents based in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to share their experiences of safeguarding and tell social workers want they want from the process.
The Parents and Allies Network (PAN) West Glamorgan is part of the Parents, Families and Allies Network (PFAN), and plans to develop a parent-peer advocacy and support service in the coming months.
The meetings have been organised with Swansea council and Neath Port Talbot council, and will take place in February, March and April.
The group has offered to help parents with transport needs and refreshments and offers two locations for parents to access if they would like to join in:
Swansea (Mondays): Include Hub, 2 Humphrey Street, Swansea SA1 6BG http://www.include-uk.co.uk
The meetings take place on: 14th February, 7th March, 28th March at 10.30am to 12.30pm
Neath Port Talbot (Fridays): Two Cann St Pauls, St Pauls Centre, Gerald Street, Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot SA12 6DQ http://www.twocann.co.uk/twocann-st-pauls
The meetings take place on: 18th February, 11th March, 1st April at 10.30am to 12.30pm
The flyer for the event says:
“We would like to hear your views and experiences about what parents need when involved with child protection services.
This group has been organised by parents with experience of the child protection system and a supportive professional.
How can parent advocacy help parents going through safeguarding and what that might involve?
A parent-speaker will talk about their experiences, and you will have the opportunity to share your experience also. You can participate as much or as little as you like.”
Families who would like to attend can register for the meetings or email any questions over to:
Anna Collins: anna.collins@swansea.gov.uk Mob: 07796275393 or;
Fiona MacLeod: f.macleod@npt.gov.uk Mob: 07772899242
West Glamorgan Safeguarding Board: wgsb.wales
The flyer below is provided in English and Welsh.
Researching Reform 
Reblogged this on tummum's Blog.
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What do parents in Wales need from Child Protection services? i would suggest that they concentrate 99% of their efforts on keeping children with parents or grandparents
WITH A PRESUMPTION THAT MOST PARENTS ARE GOOD PARENTS IN THE ABSENCE OF HARD EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY;
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I wish also to answer the oft repeated plaintive cry of Child Protective Services “Damned if we do and damned if we don’t ”
I ask simply “Would the parents of Arthur,Maria Colwell,baby P ,and all the other murdered children have fought in court to recover them if they had been taken into care? I think not as those sort of monsters avoid courts like the plague !
What I am saying is that desperate parents who love their children enough to endure months of mental torture in the family courts are rarely abusers ! Logically they should therefore usually win but in fact they very rarely do.
Judicial statistics show that only one in 400 care orders are refused ! What chance do such parents have? How can they deny allegations by self styled “experts” that one day in the future they might harm their children?
I repeat that all parents should be presumed by the courts to be at least adequate parents unless there is very solid and current evidence to the contrary.;
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Is there a similar group in North Wales and how did these meetings go? Did many parents come forward as it can be a very shaming and traumatic process.
Such groups are definitely needed (with no connection to Childrens Services) as parents are often too traumatised to know what to do or who can be trusted to help.
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