An About Me profile will usually be one page long – the front page is the About Me and it has the most important day to day information. On the reverse side of each template there is an opportunity to add more information on the More About Me.

It should be written in plain English – it is important for the words to be written clearly and simply on the profile so that everyone can understand. Jargon should be avoided for example medical terms and acronyms (abbreviations).

It is suitable for all ages – there are two main templates to choose from, one is suitable for all children and young people and one is aimed at those children and young people thinking about future plans. Each comes in a range of colours and with an option to add either 1 or 3 pictures.

About Me profiles are designed to be portable – the About Me can be taken easily to any appointment, school or leisure facility without having to take lots of information and can be used to share key information in a quick and accessible way.

The About Me Guide is there to help you complete a profile – either for yourself or a child or young person you care for or support.

About Me has been co-produced by a group of parent/carers and professionals from different organisations and services across Manchester, including: The Manchester Parent Carer Forum, Manchester Parent Champions, Manchester City Council, Manchester Foundation Trust, the Manchester Local Care Organisation and a range of Manchester mainstream and special schools.

Following feedback from parents and carers of their frustrations in having to share their story in each new setting, the project group came together and developed About Me profile templates and a supporting guide – these have been successfully trialled in different settings including schools, health services and early years settings and are now available to everybody across the city.

We often hear from parents and carers that there is a clear wish to ‘tell their story once’. A lot of parents have told us about appointments or social events that haven’t gone as well as they could have done if key information about their child had been shared beforehand.

About Me aims to alleviate this problem by giving the opportunity for all children and young people to have a concise and clear person-centred profile to be available in all settings.

A profile can be shared by email by a young person or their parent or carer by email to different settings and services. For example, if a child or young person is due to attend a social event, the About Me can be shared with the event organisers beforehand. If a child is being referred to a health service, like Occupational Therapy, the About Me can be shared by email alongside the referral information. Printed copies of a profile can also be taken along to different settings and passed to staff members in person. About Me profiles can be shared with GPs and other health services, nurseries and schools, social care, respite services and any other settings.