This will be achieved through one to one support from an advocate and through a parents' forum created by and for those with a learning disability. Our overall aim is for parents with learning disabilities to be given the opportunity to show that they are able to parent their children successfully, receiving appropriate support where necessary. To do this we will: • create a training and resource package to be delivered by parents themselves • support parents with learning disabilities to create their own forum which will provide peer and advocacy support • provide essential one to one advocacy support for parents in crisis in complex child protection cases and care proceedings • challenge discriminatory practice, and the lack of service provision and development of policy with regards to supporting parents with a learning disability • raise awareness of the support needs of parents with learning disabilities and promote good working practice by facilitating a monthly meeting for professionals working with parents with a learning disability and parents themselves • use the skills of an experienced senior advocate to provide support for other advocates and volunteers in their work with parents. Why this work is important We have supported parents with learning disabilities since we were first established in 1996. In that time we have seen referrals for this client group grow from 5% of total workload to around 40%. Our work mostly involves supporting parents where there are child protection concerns or care proceedings. Many parents are referred to us at the point of crisis when their children have already been removed from their care. Where support has been offered to parents it is frequently from support workers who have neither the skills nor experience of working with people with learning disabilities. We believe we are best placed to address this issue in Solihull because we have considerable experience in supporting cases such as these and we are the only organisation in this area providing independent advocacy for people with learning disabilities. We receive no funding for supporting parents with a learning disability but without advocacy support these parents have to face a set of processes and procedures that simply overwhelm them and are unlikely to receive the support they need to be good enough parents. What difference would this work make • More families would be able to stay together because they receive appropriate support. • Parents with a learning disability and their children would have a more positive experience of family life. • Parents who may be unable to adequately care for their children at home would be supported through complex legal proceedings at a time of unimaginable anxiety and distress. • Discriminatory practices would be challenged and the good practice guidelines recommended by Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills “Good practice in working with parents with learning disabilities”. (2007) would be adopted. Amount of funding required The total funding required over 3 years will be £144,858. We have funding of £22,257 from other sources and are looking for the remaining £122,601. A more detailed breakdown of project costs is available on request. Revenue costs include salaries £114,163, recruitment £1,400, Staff Travel Costs £6,750, Staff Training Costs £1,080, Monitoring and evaluation £1,600, Core Office Costs £4,328, Core Premises Costs £11,127, RoomHire £2,160, volunteer expenses £1,500, Refreshements £750. There are no capital costs.