The best way to ensure that our services meet the needs of the children and young people using them, is to involve them in the design, review and monitoring of services.

We need to make it easier for children and young people to be involved in decision-making in all aspects of the council. We need to make sure this is done for both the everyday decisions about the services people are provided with and the big decisions about which services are developed.

We are pleased that we have made some progress over the last few years and this framework is part of a range of activities and initiatives that are changing the way we work.

This framework has been developed in partnership with children, young people and parents, as well as workers from both the council and voluntary sector organisations, to make sure it is right for Waltham Forest.

We recognise that children and young people are the customers and potential customers of all the Council’s services, and not just those in children services. So we developed this framework in partnership with our colleagues in the Council’s community engagement unit.

The framework will be implemented across the Council. We are confident that the toolkit, which is part of this document, will provide people with the practical support and information they need to bring the framework alive and make a real difference to how we provide services to children and young people.

Young person, co-chair step2step project group

Helping make decisions is great but seeing change happen because of our decisions is greater. I see things changing, it’s a slow change but it’s a good change. And making the right decision is crucial for the future of young people in care and leaving care, they have a right to a better service.”

Parent, co –chair Sybourn children centre standards project group

I was pleased to take part in the work on the standards. As a mother of three children under four years old, the constant improvement in communication between families and services is very important to me. It was great that families with young children were asked what they wanted. This helps target resources where they are needed most and provides a more personal service.”

We expect and want children and young people in Waltham Forest to be at the heart of decision-making across the Council.

Chris Kiernan
Executive director, Children Services

Cllr Chris Robbins
Cabinet member for Children and Young People

» Next: Introduction