Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum (LPCF)
LPCF is the recognised voice of parent carers of children and young people with SEND in Lincolnshire.
Under the SEND Code of Practice (2015), LPCF is tasked by the Department for Education (DfE) to represent the collective views and experiences of parents and carers of children with SEND.
LPCF is an independent registered charity that works in co-production with the local authority, NHS, Ofsted, DFE and other partners. It is led by trustees and supported by volunteers, most of whom are parent carers themselves.
Main role – representation
LPCF gathers feedback from its large membership through surveys, meetings, events and online engagement.
Generic themes (not individual cases) are shared with decision-makers to help improve services, shape policies and ensure parent carer voices are heard. LPCF ensures a two-way feedback loop by sharing parent views with partners and publishing their responses for families to see
Supporting parent carers
Free membership provides access to:
- parent-only Facebook support group
- evidence-based feedback reports
- coffee mornings and Zoom sessions
- workshops and events
- signposting to services and support
- wellbeing and resilience support
- additional benefits such as Max cards
Working with professionals
LPCF acts as a bridge between families and professionals on the membership by:
- sharing updates, events and opportunities
- supporting communication between parents and services
- signposting families to appropriate support
- delivering setting visits to explain LPCF’s role to staff and parents
- supporting evidence of engagement and participation for Ofsted and CQC
- promoting positive and innovative SEND work locally, regionally and nationally (including feedback to DfE and government)
