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The principles were developed together with the children and young people, parent carers, schools and services of Rotherham, and have become known as the Rotherham Charter. Rotherham Parent Carer Forum members are actively involved with the Charter Team, equal partners with practitioners. It is a key strand of the Forum’s work.
The team tries hard to strengthen the four principles in Rotherham schools, settings and services, offering them training and support packages, and working in a positive way to model the principles. So far 17 schools have achieved Charter Gold Accreditation in recognition of their best practice, and there will be a further 3 this year. Six have already been re-accredited. There is a steady uptake. Although not all schools have chosen to go through the full Charter process, many have attended training sessions, and most schools in Rotherham will be aware of the commitment of the Council to this work.
Chat ‘n’ Chill youth group for young people up to the age of 25 with autism has also piloted the Charter process for services and has been the first to achieve Charter Gold. Other services have also received training. A bespoke Early Years Charter process is currently being developed and will involve dedicated Early Years practitioners.
In 2016 the team launched Genuine Partnerships, in order to promote the Charter beyond Rotherham.That same year the team was invited to join VOICES: National Alliance for Partnership Working because its work in equal partnership was viewed as best practice, and UNIQUE! The principles of the Charter became adopted as the Four Cornerstones of Co-production nationally, and the team was commissioned to work in partnership with Contact (formerly Contact a Family) to promote the Four Cornerstones in other Local Areas around the country.
In October this year Rotherham also hosted a VOICES day. This involved young people, parent carers, practitioners from schools and settings, Education, Health and Care services. The report that followed is helping the Local Area understand better what it already does well in relation to the Four Cornerstones, and what it can do better. There is going to be a group of parent carers, young people and practitioners working on the next steps highlighted to continue improving Rotherham’s Four Cornerstone’s practice.
If you would like to know more about the Rotherham Charter and/or Genuine Partnerships, or you are interested in getting involved, then please see https://www.rpcf.co.uk/rotherham-charter-genuine-partnerships; www.rotherhamcharter.co.uk; www.genuinepartnerships.co.uk , speak to us at the Forum, or contact Eva on eva.ogden@rotherham.gov.uk . New parent carers will always receive a friendly welcome, and we will try our best to answer your questions.
Forum members who are already members of the Charter and Genuine Partnerships team will tell you how exciting and rewarding it is!
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