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To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.
Including parents in Learning Disability Week
Learning Disability Week 2025 takes place from the 16th to the 22nd June. It is organised by the charity Mencap. The theme this year is ‘Do you see me?’ which is all about people with a learning disability being seen, heard, included and valued.
Valuing parents in Learning Disability Week
Like most families, parents with learning difficulties or disabilities may need some help to bring up their children. But a disproportionate number of parents with learning disabilities in England are involved in child protection cases. They have to face complex processes and unfamiliar language filled with legal and social work terminology. They often struggle to get the help and support they need.
One of Family Rights Group’s parent panel members wanted to use the week to raise awareness of our new film for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities: Working with a child and family worker.
Being seen
Kyle Holman is a member of Family Rights Group’s parent panel. We are very grateful to him for making this vlog about our new film for parents with learning difficulties or disabilities.
Watch Kyle talk about the difference our film could have made to him.
What Kyle told us about our film for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities
“Hello. My name is Kyle Holman and I am a member of the parents’ panel for the Family Rights Group.
Why the film is needed
I’m making this video to help promote a short film that outlines the way parenting assessments should be done for families, and especially those with learning difficulties and disabilities. The first point I’d like to cover is how confusing the system is and the difficulties trying to understand the legal wording and the legal processes.
Well, for first time parents and families it can be very difficult. It’s a new thing and it’s different. And the whole processes can be confusing and stressful and the impact it has on families can vary. If you get on well with your family, you will get support, if you don’t get on so well, it might create some friction.
But it can be a very confusing and stressful time for everybody, and it is difficult to understand what’s being said.
But don’t be afraid to ask for it to be simplified.
How the film helps children and families
The next point that I would like to cover is why it’s good that this film has been produced and how it would have helped me if I’d have been aware of the FRG (Family Rights Group) and the film when I was in my case.
So, as I’ve already said, it outlines how assessments should be done. It shows the support available. And it would have helped me because, well, first of all, I’d have been aware of the FRG (or the Family Rights Group) and the support that I would have had. And I might have stood a better chance of getting my children.
Sharing with families
Should social workers share this film with the families they work with? Absolutely, 100%, people need to be aware of the support that’s out there.
Or if the social workers aren’t making them aware, solicitors equally.
Make them aware, but yes, it should be shared with all families, regardless if they’ve got learning difficulties and disabilities or not. Because it can be a scary time.
Tips for social workers
And as for any tips?
For social workers, make people aware of Family Rights Group and the support that they can get so that they can find the film and they have a better understanding of the processes and what is to come.
And also, not saying this is like for all social workers, but when you turn up at someone’s house, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. So always go with a friendly approach. And try not to feel intimidating.
Thank you.”
Co-created with parents with learning difficulties and disabilities
The film aims to provide clear, accessible information for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities about what they should be able to expect when a social worker is involved, how they should be treated, and what support they should get.
To make the film we worked with Speakup, a self advocacy group run by and for people with learning difficulties. Parents with lived-experience of children’s services were involved in the whole process, including scripting and acting in the film.
Watch the film and read more about how the film was made and why it is needed.
More advice and information
Visit our advice pages for more information on adult learning difficulties and disabilities, including:
- The law and parents with learning difficulties and disabilities
- Good practice when working with parents with learning difficulties or disabilities
- Good practice when working with a parent or carer with a learning difficulty or disability during a child protection process
- Getting further specialist advice and support
May 2025
Our funding means we can currently only help 4 in 10 people
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