Oldham Parent Carer Forum, supported by POINT, have always been dedicated to supporting families across Oldham, ensuring they have access to the help and resources they need. Our commitment to families remains at the heart of everything we do, particularly during these challenging times.Through Oldham Parent Carer forums various engagements with parent and carers, a recurring theme emerged, it showed navigating the complex and often overwhelming special educational needs and disability (SEND) system can have a significant adverse impact on their mental health. Parents frequently describe the process as exhausting, stressful, and, at times, isolating, as they face numerous hurdles, including getting the right support in school, long waiting times for assessments, and the need to continually advocate for their child’s rights and access to support.
However, despite these challenges, many parent carers do not prioritise their own mental health and well-being. Their primary focus remains on securing the best possible outcomes for their child or young person, often at the expense of their own emotional and physical well-being. The pressure to be a constant advocate, together with feelings of guilt that they are failing their child or young person because they don’t understand the world of SEND, means that self-care is often neglected.
Aim:
- Help parents understand the importance of self-care and looking after their own mental health, at the same time offering empowerment, as understanding process and systems can often go some way to improve emotional health and wellbeing.
Plan:
- Identify areas of the SEND system that parent, and carers are struggling to navigate, to inform what subjects to cover at our SEND Health and Wellbeing event so that we can help them understand the processes better, to empower them and reduce some of the stress the uncertainty brings.
- Ensure parents know how to access mental health support for themselves, if they need it, by creating resources of support and key information.
Support & Resources:
- Created a mental health and wellbeing leaflet to give to parent carers, that shared the local and online mental health support services which are available to parent carers in Oldham.
- Organised for one of Oldham Parent Carer forum’s “Cuppa and Chat” drop – in sessions to be supported by QWELL, an online mental health support service, to introduce parents to support they might not know is available to them, at a time that suits them, from home, in a safe environment.
- Organise a SEND and wellbeing event, with three different sessions [morning, afternoon, and evening] to give parents an opportunity to attend at a time that best suits them (again promoting wellbeing and accessibility) as well as ensuring working parents have access to valuable support and guidance.
Timeline & Involvement:
- Over a period of 4 months, we engaged with parents directly at forum outreach events and during telephone calls to find out what self-care parent/carers were already accessing or were aware of, establish what and which mental health support services parents had heard of, and if they knew how to access them.
- We also asked for information about their journey, to help us understand which parts of the SEND system they are currently finding most difficult to navigate.
Oldham Parent Carer Forum representatives and volunteers regularly ask parents and carers how they are feeling. We feel it’s important for them to know that they aren’t just parents and carers, and that how they are feeling matters too. Looking after a child, particularly one with additional needs, can be incredibly demanding, which is why it is essential for parents to prioritise their own health and wellbeing. To be able to care for their child effectively, parents must also take care of themselves.
We also ask what areas of the SEND system they are finding most challenging at the moment, as we know this greatly impacts their mental health and wellbeing. With the funding and being a part of a network, we wanted to put more of a focus on getting parents to recognise that it is very important to make some time—even if it’s only five minutes—to focus on their mental health. We used the information gathered from parents and carers to shape the mental health support events planning for the year.
One of the areas identified by through this process was that the Christmas period can be particularly challenging for families with children or young people who have additional needs or disabilities.
During this time, families often experience heightened stress due to several factors: changes in school timetables, the excitement and distractions caused by decorations and lights, the transition into school holidays, and the added pressure on parents and caregivers to manage the demand and the pressure that the festive period can bring, especially at this time when cost of living is rising. All of these can create a sense of overwhelm, making it even harder for families to cope. Understanding the difficulties families face during the festive season, we wanted to step in and provide much-needed support.
To help alleviate some of the pressure, we made mental health a central focus of our December "Cuppa and Chat" event. We invited a representative from QWELL, a mental health support service, to offer guidance and resources for parents and carers. The idea behind this event was to provide a safe, informal space for families to discuss their concerns and receive practical advice on managing mental health challenges, both for themselves and their children.
In addition to the event, we created a mental health support leaflet designed specifically for families. This leaflet provides information and helpful links to local mental health services, as well as safe, online mental health support. By having this resource readily available, parents and carers are empowered with the knowledge of where to turn for help when they need it.
Having access to clear, reliable, and verified information can make a significant difference in reducing feelings of isolation and uncertainty. It reassures parents that support is available and encourages them to prioritise their own mental wellbeing. By equipping parents with the right tools and resources, they can feel more confident in managing the challenges they face, ultimately benefiting both themselves and their children. The leaflet serves as a tangible reminder that they are not alone and that their mental health matters too.
For our main event we organised a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Health and wellbeing event. We know that navigating the SEND system can often feel like an overwhelming task for parents and carers, especially when they may not know where to turn for guidance or support. Our goal was to simplify this process and make sure that families felt empowered with the knowledge they needed to better advocate for their children. We also recognised that many parents and carers struggle to attend events due to work commitments or other responsibilities, so to accommodate as many people as possible, we offered three separate sessions throughout the day, allowing families more flexibility to attend.
At the event, we focused on sharing clear, accessible information about areas where parents and carers told us they feel confused or uncertain, such as understanding the new EHC Hub system and how the graduated response is used to evidence the level of support their child or young person needs. The reason for focusing on these areas was because parents and carers told us that they find using the new EHC Hub system causes then a great deal of stress and anxiety and can be a block to being able to navigate and request support.
There was also an emphasis on the need for parents and carers to support their own mental health whilst navigating the process. We invited representatives from the Local authority, Health, and Mental Health Support Services to deliver this information, reinforcing our commitment to supporting both the children’s and the parents' wellbeing.
Our aim was to ensure that by the end of the event, parents and carers would feel more informed, supported, and empowered. We wanted them to leave with a clearer understanding of how to navigate the often-complex system and where to go for help, both for themselves and their children. This was why after each speaker we included time for a question-and-answer session to ensure parents and carers had understood the information that was delivered, and any areas they were still unclear about. By combining essential SEND information with mental health support, we hoped to provide families with the tools and resources to thrive. Our ultimate goal was to make a meaningful difference in their lives, helping them to better manage their challenges and create a healthier, more positive environment for their children.
Parents also had the opportunity to speak one-to-one with Oldham’s Designated Clinical Officer (DCO), representatives from Quality, Educational Support & Training Team (QEST), who are a team of advisory specialist teachers, and members of the local authority SEND team. This personal engagement not only provided valuable guidance and support but also helped to strengthen relationships and build trust between parents and professionals. Parents left feeling empowered and feeling more confident in their ability to navigate the support available, further alleviating their stress.
Parents have reported feeling significantly more confident in navigating the EHC Hub system, enabling them to engage more effectively with the processes involved in securing the right support for their child or young person. They now have a much clearer understanding of how the graduated response is used to evidence their child's needs within the educational setting.
Families have highlighted that, with our support and this increased clarity and confidence has contributed to a reduction in their levels of anxiety and stress. By gaining a better awareness of the available pathways for mental health support, parents feel more assured in accessing the necessary resources at the right time. Furthermore, they have recognised the critical role that self-care plays in helping them to manage stress and respond to challenges with greater composure.
By prioritising their own wellbeing, parents are not only better equipped to navigate complex systems but also more resilient in supporting their child’s educational journey. This holistic approach fosters a more positive home environment, strengthening family relationships and ensuring that both parents and children feel supported throughout the process.
The opportunity to access this funding has provided us with a valuable moment of reflection, prompting a strategic re-evaluation of how we can best support parent and carer mental health in the future. Through the feedback gathered directly from parents, we have gained a deeper understanding of their needs and the barriers they face in accessing support.
As a direct response to this, we now offer dedicated evening support sessions—once a month at the POINT office in Chadderton and twice a month at The Family Hubs.
These additional sessions are designed to ensure that all parents, regardless of their work commitments or busy schedules, have equitable access to vital guidance, resources, and emotional support at a time that is more convenient for them.
By embedding this flexible approach into our long-term strategy, we are reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and the continuous improvement of our support services. This initiative marks a significant step forward in our efforts to proactively address the mental health challenges faced by parents and carers, ensuring they feel supported and empowered in their roles.
100% of parents who attended told us that they feel better informed about what is available to support them and their children or young people and are happy that they attended.
Quotes from parents who attended the SEND Health and Wellbeing event
"I am new to being a parent carer for my son (who has the pleasure of attending with me) and it was interesting listening and learning everything and having all my questions answered."
"I found helpful information within all of the presentations."
"I learned that there were people I was not aware/signposted to previously which gave me avenues to explore."
"I've used the EHC hub previously but haven't yet had a review on it so was helpful to have the tips and knowledge for it. "
"Hearing the changes, the SEND leads are implementing was great too."
"Kooth was helpful as I didn't know about Qwell and they are looking into visiting my stepsons school for a presentation."
"We were shown clearly who the send team are and what their role is."
"What a good session, everyone was so helpful, and I have learnt loads of useful information."