Middlesborough parent carer forum, Parents4Change, have developed positive working relationships with council officers, local politicians and Members of Parliament. They have proactively engaged with council work-streams and focus groups, and arranged regular conferences to increase awareness around disability and represent the views of families.
Their feedback helped shape Middlesborough ‘Multi-agency Strategy for Children with Disabilities’ which included the appointment of a short breaks facilitator and tendering of a new short breaks service.
Following a successful pilot programme with families the council was able to increase the offer of personal budgets for short breaks. This case study gives examples of how these changes have given families greater choice and control.