Background

The parent carer forums, Dorset Parent Carer Council (DPCC) and Parent Carers Together (PCT) are very aware of the difficulties families living across Dorset County are experiencing around Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).

We know that in other parts of the country the situation has been helped by having a statement describing the local area position on the use of terminology around PDA.

In October 2020 DPCC and PCT approached Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and their respective Local Authorities with a request that they work with us to create a PDA Position Statement for Dorset.

What has happened so far

In September this year a working group came together. The group includes parent carers with lived experience, Paediatricians, Educational Psychologists, Clinical Psychologist, Associate Designated Clinical Officer and representatives from Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Service and Speech & Language Therapy.

The group agreed that the purpose of a Dorset position statement would be to ensure a consistent message and a shared understanding about PDA across the local authority, schools, health, and the parent carer forums, so that children and their families can be supported in the best way possible.

They also acknowledged the importance of co – producing the statement with a need to ensure the widest possible involvement from all stakeholders.

It was agreed that existing position statements from other areas will be a good starting place.

Next steps

This is the first opportunity for you to contribute to this work, with more to follow as the document evolves and develops.

Before an initial draft can be written the working group would like to know what you think the Dorset PDA Position Statement should include. Please use the following link to share your ideas and thoughts. (Everything you share will be anonymous, unless you choose to include your details).

Working together to create a Dorset Pathological Demand Avoidance Position Statement. (padlet.com)