At West Sussex County Council, we know you are the experts in what works and what needs to be made better. If you are working with West Sussex Children’s Services and you are a young person, a parent, a carer, or part of a family, your experiences help us improve the support we offer.
Join one of our voice groups to share ideas, meet others and help shape how Children’s Services work, now and in the future.
For young people (aged 13 to 18).
Your Voice. Your Space. Your Impact.
Don’t just watch things happen, help change them.
The Family Safeguarding youth voice group is a group of 13 to 18-year-olds from across West Sussex who meet to make real changes to how services treat young people.
You’ll get to:
- speak directly to the people who make decisions
- train professionals on what it’s really like to be a young person in Children’s Services
- improve things for others going through similar experiences
When you join, you will:
- make it happen: Your ideas = real change in West Sussex.
- boost your CV: Colleges, jobs and universities love seeing real leadership and activism
- get perks: We’ll thank you for your time with vouchers
- gain extra skills: Learn public speaking, design, teamwork and more
- have flexible vibes: We meet once a month in person or online, whatever works for you.
- be yourself: No judgment, just a safe, supportive space to speak your truth
The Voice and Participation team would love to hear from you. Let us know if you’re interested and we’ll take it from there and be in touch.
Parents and carers
Help us get it right for families
If you are a parent or carer who is working with Children’s Services, then the Family Safeguarding Parent Forum gives parents and carers a direct way to influence how support works across West Sussex.
When you join the forum, you will:
- improve the journey: Help us understand what works and what needs fixing in the safeguarding process
- receive peer support: Meet other parents and carers in a collaborative, non judgemental space
- influence change: Work with staff to improve letters, leaflets and how we communicate with families
- have flexible involvement: Join regular meetings or drop in for one-off feedback sessions, whatever suits you
Feedback from young people and families
We want to hear from you!
Tell us about your experiences with the people supporting you and your family. Your feedback helps them do an even better job.
All families working with West Sussex Children’s Services are invited to complete a feedback survey.