Draft Memorandum of Understanding
Between
Halton Family Voice and Halton Children’s Centres
This Memorandum of Understanding is between Halton Family Voice and
Halton Children’s Centres. The purpose of this Memorandum is to formalise
both the intent and the practical process by which the parties will work
collaboratively.
1. Background
 Halton Family Voice
Halton Family Voice (HFV) involves Halton Parents, carers and families in
decision making around children and families services. This is achieved through
its forum, newsletters, Facebook and links to community groups. Parent’s voice
is then represented by parent representatives at a number of board meetings
and groups including Halton Children’s Trust.
 Halton Children’s Centres
Children's centres provide a range of services to support children and families
including activities such as early learning play sessions, access to health
information, adult learning opportunities and supporting access to
employment. They are located within local communities
2. Legal disclaimer – this is not a legally binding document but an expression
of intent to work together to achieve common goals.
3. Principles
The Parties will work together by:
 HFV incorporate children’s centres parent voice. Halton Children’s
centres will no longer have individual parent voice groups for each
Memorandum of Understanding – Halton Family Voice and Halton Children’s Centres September 2015
centre, instead HFV will be held in the children’s centres and have
children’s centres as a standing agenda item at meetings. It is thought
that the arrangement will gain a wider and varied parent views. Detailed
in the HFV structure will be the relationship between children’s centres,
children’s centre advisory boards and individually constituted groups.
4. Specifics
The parties will work to the following agreements:
 Halton Family Voice to inform Children’s centre managers and seniors of
the meeting dates and dates of meetings to be on children’s centre
timetables.
 Halton Children’s centre staff to promote and advertise Halton Family
Voice through word of mouth, posters and Facebook.
 Lead engagement officer to still visit constituted parent groups to
promote Halton Family voice, these groups to still be identified as
groups in their own right on the HFV structure.
 Children’s centre staff to attend Halton Family Voice meetings on a rota
basis.
 Halton Family Voice to write quarterly reports on Halton Family Voice
activity in relation to Halton Children’s centres.
 Halton Family Voice to share Action Log document detailing Halton
Family Voice business.
 Halton Children’s Centres to continue to carry out and record other
involvement and participation in line with participation strategy levels of
participation (1.information giving, 2. consultation, 3. Deciding together
and 4. Acting together)
 Halton Children’s Centre s to provide crèche were possible for Halton
Family Voice meetings.
 Both parties to share social media posts
The agreement can be changed upon joint agreement between the two
parties. This agreement will be reviewed on an annual basis or after
substantial change of circumstance for either group.
Memorandum of Understanding – Halton Family Voice and Halton Children’s Centres September 2015