Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service for Children

Advocacy Service. The Council has a duty to offer an independent advocacy service to care experienced young people, children subject to a child protection plan and children in need.

The main purpose is to empower and enable young people to have a voice by providing independent information, advice, support and advocacy. It provides a confidential opportunity to share information and concerns about their care or treatment, to be informed of their rights and be able to access independent representation.

Advocacy should be led by the views, wishes of children and young people, and champion the rights and needs of children and young people. These measures must be implemented alongside relevant guidance including Effective Advocacy for Looked-After Children, Children in Need and Care Leavers 2023 and adapt to new guidance released.

The Council also has a duty to provide independent advocacy to 16 and 17 year-old people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation. The service needs to provide independent advocacy to this cohort of young people so that they can make an informed decision about their accommodation.

The Independent Visitor Service . Independent Visitors can play an important role in safeguarding children in care, helping to identify problems early and to secure for them the help and support they need to flourish.

An Independent Visitor is an adult who has been trained to befriend a child in care, take an interest in their welfare, spend time with them, offer advice, support and guidance, and encourage them to take part in challenging and stimulating personal development activities. Independent Visitors provide positive influences in the lives of children in care, encourage them to express their concerns about issues or query where they are unhappy about any aspects of their care. By maintaining productive relationships with children in care, Independent Visitors help to raise their self-esteem, confidence and ability to nurture trusting and healthy relationships while safeguarding these children.