Working Well Together
Working Well Together
Assembly members contribute by in accordance with key Assembly documents such as the Working Well Together Guidelines (below). You can also find below an explainer of the Engagement Process, a flow chart which sets out how the Assembly works and the How We Work reel.
- Working Well Together Guidelines - PDF version (text version below)
- Engagement Process Explainer - PDF version
- Assembly Flow Chart
- How We Work Reel.
The Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers: Working Well Together Guidelines
Parents, carers and partners are committed to working together well. Parent and carer members of the Assembly will be supported in their roles to play a significant part in improving education in Scotland.
Purpose and Vision
The Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers is an exciting project which presents a new way of hearing the voices of parents and carers. For parents and carers, it is a unique opportunity to help to shape Scottish education. The Assembly will provide comprehensive methods for gathering the views of parents and carers in Scotland, in order that they can shape and influence education policy with the Scottish Government pledging to respond to the issues it raises.
It is paramount that parents’ contributions are meaningful, respectful and relevant, as we all contribute to building a positive reputation for the new Assembly.
It therefore is important that everyone understands and agrees to the following values so we can all work well together.
The key principles of Working Well Together are:
HONESTY- Working with the utmost integrity in all situations. Members should consistently act with transparency, fostering an environment of reliable, honest actions and clear, open communication.
TEAMWORK – Being supportive towards each other and contributing constructively in discussions.
FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY – Treating everyone as an equal. Discriminatory behaviour or language will not be tolerated.
RESPECT AND INCLUSIVITY- Listening to others and respecting their views. The members of the Assembly are people from all different backgrounds and communities and every parent and carer contributing will feel valued and heard.
TRUST – Establish trust within the group. By developing trust, people will feel safe to speak freely.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY – Respecting and maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of all Members. Parents and carers are invited to bring their own experiences and expertise to the Assembly and this may mean personal information is shared. This information and the names and personal data of Assembly members must not be disclosed without explicit written consent.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILTY- Each person needs to be accountable for their own behaviour and contributions. Recognising that it’s group work, everyone needs to work together even when there are opposing views.
COMMUNICATION – Connect and the Project Co-ordinator will oversee and manage all communications with external partners and organisations and support Members with this. Members should contact Connect and/or the Project Co-ordinator immediately if, for example, they receive approaches from media organisations or journalists.
PROJECT FEEDBACK – There will be opportunities for constructive feedback. This can be initiated by us but also encouraged within the Assembly group. Regular evaluations and feedback opportunities will help improve and adapt the format as it evolves.
FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTATION – Acknowledging that the format and structure of the Assembly may change as it evolves is important. Being flexible and adapting to new situations and challenges ensure continuous improvement and relevance.
HANDLING ISSUES OR CONCERNS – If there are any concerns, members should contact Connect and the Project Co-Ordinator. If individual members are unable to work together well, advice and help will be sought from Scottish Mediation. If issues cannot be resolved, Connect reserves the right to remove members from the Assembly.
EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR – The Project Co-Ordinator’s role is primarily to gather views and ensure that all voices are heard and documented, and those who are seldom involved in these discussions are supported to do so. They facilitate communication and organisation but do not influence the content or direction of the discussions. Their goal is to support the Assembly in achieving its vision by providing logistical and administrative assistance.
Agreeing to this Working Well Together document will ensure members exercise their roles effectively and provides a comprehensive framework for members to work together harmoniously while ensuring the diverse voices are heard and respected.