Family Rights Group, the national specialist child welfare charity, is launching ‘A film for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities: working with a child and family social worker.’
Created with and for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities, the film has been developed to help parents understand what to expect when a child and family social worker becomes involved in their child’s life.
Parents with learning disabilities are over-represented in child protection processes and care proceedings in England, often experiencing overwhelming and confusing situations. Children’s services processes can be complex, filled with jargon, and support can be inconsistent. Many parents struggle to access advocacy and support at the right time.
To address this, Family Rights Group partnered with Speakup Rotherham – an advocacy organisation for people with learning difficulties and disabilities – and parents with lived experience, to co-produce an accessible and informative film.
The film explains key processes in children’s services and outlines what parents who have learning difficulties and disabilities can expect when working with a child and family social worker. Parents were involved every step of the way—from shaping the content to making the film itself – ensuring the film reflects their experiences and addresses the challenges they face.
The film focuses on the early stages of children’s social work involvement, but its principles for how child and family social workers should work with parents who have learning difficulties and disabilities apply at all stages. It is designed for parents and can also be used by social workers, family lawyers, family support workers, and advocates supporting parents.
The film is available on Family Rights Group’s website from 2 April 2025.
Vicky, Speakup Rotherham committee member and parent with lived experience, who participated in the film, said:
“All parents have a different experience when coming across a social worker, and sometimes it feels like you have to fight for their rights and show that they can be good parents just like other parents are.
I thought it was a good idea to work with the Family Rights Group on this film as it will give social workers more understanding on what it is like for people with learning disabilities when they are parents, and they have a social worker involved.”
Annie Ferguson, founder of Speakup Rotherham, said:
“People with learning disabilities often have a negative view of social workers, and it is important that we try and change this to show parents with learning disabilities that social workers can and do work well with families to give a holistic experience and good outcomes for families as a whole.”
Pam Ledward, Principal Social Work Adviser at Family Rights Group, said that parents with learning difficulties and disabilities often face a system that feels overwhelming, complex, and difficult to navigate. She added:
“Too many struggle to get the right support at the right time—something we hear all too often on our advice line.
To truly address this, we knew the film had to be shaped by parents, for parents. Their expertise, insights, and voices were central to creating clear, accessible information that not only explains their rights but also sets out how social workers should communicate to deliver support and work in genuine partnership.
This film breaks down key processes and expectations, equipping parents with the knowledge and confidence to engage with children’s services while helping professionals understand how to work with them fairly and effectively.”
