The Children Act 1989 (Section 26A) gives all looked after children, children in need and care leavers a statutory right to advocacy when they are making a complaint or representation to the local authority.
An advocate is someone who is just 'the voice of the child'. So, even if the 'best interest' view is clearly the right one, the child or young person will still have an adult supporting them to make sure that their wishes are acknowledged.
An advocate can do a range of things for a child or young person but the most likely are:
- making phones calls, emails and letters to the social worker of the child or young person and other professionals involved
- supporting them to attend meetings and reviews, or attending on their behalf
- helping them go through the formal complaints process
- signpost the child or young person to the information they need
- promote the rights and entitlements of the child or young person
Wherever possible the advocate will encourage the child or young person to speak up for themselves so that in the future hopefully they can deal with issues without the need for an advocate.
Advocates work in an open way, and will always tell the child or young person they are working for about any conversations they have had with professionals. If it is a time when sharing this information may be upsetting or harmful to the child or young person they will work with the professional to make sure they are told in a more suitable way.
Contact an advocate:
Telephone: (0191) 643 8215
Mobile: (call or text) 07971 294247
Email: advocacy@northtyneside.gov.uk