Whose job is it anyway?

One of the areas of greatest confusion regarding parent engagement in Haringey  has been is who is making the decisions about parent engagement at the local authority.  Decisions have been made - but who has been making them?  How are they accountable for the decisions that they make?

source: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/responsibilities_for_senior_managers_.pdf

The Nolan Principles are the seven principles of public life, which are the basis of the ethical standards expected of public office holders.  The 7 principles of public life apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes people who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in local government.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life & https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-publi...

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) advises the Prime Minister on ethical standards across the whole of public life in England. It monitors and reports on issues relating to the standards of conduct of all public office holders.

Their recent report into Local government ethical standards notes the following: 

An ethical culture requires leadership.

Expected standards of behaviour should be embedded through effective induction and ongoing training.

An ethical culture will be an open culture. Local authorities should welcome and foster opportunities for scrutiny, and see it as a way to improve decision making.

Whilst local press can play an important role in scrutinising local government, openness must be facilitated by authorities’ own processes and practices.

sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-committee-on-standards-in-public-life  & https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-ethical-standards-report

It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:

• age
• gender reassignment
• being married or in a civil partnership
• being pregnant or on maternity leave
• disability
• race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

In order to ensure that our public services meet the needs of the public they serve, engagement need to be reflective of our borough and inclusive of all people.  This might mean that we need a range of parent's group to ensure that all parents have a realistic opportunity to participate.

source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance

The public sector Equality Duty came into force across Great Britain on 5 April 2011. It means that public bodies have to consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work – in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees.

It also requires that public bodies have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination
• advance equality of opportunity
• foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities

This might mean that we are not all lumped together in one group and be expected to get on and get on with it.
source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-equality-duty

It needs to be clear that the requirement is for the local authority to involve parents and for the local authority to develop ways of harnessing the view of the local community - the responsibility for parent engagement does not lie with parents.  A handful of parents on a committee or one group cannot represent the needs of our diverse population here in Haringey.

Paragraph 3.18

At a strategic level, partners must engage children and young people with SEN and disabilities and children’s parents in commissioning decisions, to give useful insights into how to improve services and outcomes. Local authorities, CCGs and NHS England must develop effective ways of harnessing the views of their local communities so that commissioning decisions on services for those with SEN and disabilities are shaped by users’ experiences, ambitions and expectations. To do this, local authorities and CCGs should engage with local Healthwatch organisations, patient representative groups, Parent Carer Forums, groups representing young people with SEN and disabilities and other local voluntary organisations and community groups.

Paragraph 3.29

Local authorities must review their provision, taking into consideration the experiences of children, young people and families (including through representative groups such as Parent Carer Forums), voluntary and community sector providers and local Healthwatch. Information from such reviews will contribute to future arrangements and the effectiveness of local joint working.

Paragraph 4.9

Local authorities should do this in a way which ensures that children, young people and parents feel they have participated fully in the process and have a sense of co-ownership. This is often referred to as ‘co-production’. Local authorities should take steps to ensure that their arrangements for involving children, young people and parents include a broadly representative group of the children with SEN or disabilities and their parents and young people with SEN or disabilities in their area. Parent Carer Forums, young people’s forums and other local groups are useful ways to engage families.

Paragraph 4.10

Local authorities should publicise in their Local Offer the ways in which they will involve children, young people and parents in developing and reviewing it. Local authorities should ensure that they provide support that enables children, young people and parents to contribute to decision-making at this strategic level and the Local Offer should include details of this support, which should include Parent Carer Forums and local voluntary organisations.


source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/3988...