Advocacy for children and young people

The UK government see children and young people's participation in decision-making about their own lives being a key principle of Every Child Matters and the Children’s Act 1989 and its recent amendments. Local authorities in England have taken forward initiatives to ensure independent advocacy for children is available for all those who are wishing to make a complaint or in need of support to have their voice heard, as required in National Minimum Standards 1.5.

The National Minimum Standards 2011 (1.5) state "Children have access to independent advice and support from adults who they can contact directly and in private about problems or concerns, which is appropriate to their age and understanding. Children know their rights to advocacy and how to access an advocate, and how to contact the Children's Commissioner."

Anyone can ask about advocacy support services, particularly in relation to decision making within care planning processes. The child’s local authority or Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) who is responsible for chairing reviews can be approached for details of the advocacy service. Local authorities are expected to publicise their arrangements for advocacy services in their area and to provide information about children’s rights to every child or young person they are responsible for. Some local authorities provide Children’s Rights services “in house” and some use external organisations to provide advocacy.

An advocate can help a child or young person make a complaint or any other representation about their care, such as issues around time spent with family and friends, moving to a new foster home, or issues with their plans for their future.  The advocate can accompany the foster child/young person to their reviews or other meetings and ensure that their voice is heard in a way that the foster carer maybe unable to do. 

If you need to find an advocate for your foster child, the first port of call should be the child’s social worker or IRO.  However, if this is not possible, then there are a range of services you can contact. Advocacy support is the child or young person’s right, and should be encouraged.

These services will be able to advise you which advocacy services are available in your local authority area. Wherever possible, the young person should be encouraged to do this themselves, but a foster carer can make contact on their behalf in the first instance. The advocacy services will always want to speak to the child/young person to ensure that it is their views that are being reflected.