Before reading this webpage about advocating for a looked after child, please read our webpage titled what is a looked after child? Please click on the link below and you will be taken to that page.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO WHAT IS A LOOKED AFTER CHILD 

WHAT IS A CHILD ADVOCATE WITH REGARDS TO A LOOKED AFTER CHILD?

The main aim of an advocate is to empower a looked after child, uphold their human rights and make them feel they are being listened to. 

A child advocate is someone who offers the following to a looked after child:

1. Offers support to a child enabling them to express their feelings and wishes 
2. Gives advice to a child.
3. Explains their rights to the child
4. Aims to protect and champion the child’s rights. 
5. Represents the child at local authority child services meetings and reviews.
6. Represents the child at school meetings 
7. Talks to the child’s social worker explaining the child’s issue(s) and negotiates with them for the best interest of the child.
8. Puts forward the child’s views and feelings. Speaks on the child’s behalf.
9. Gives a child a voice
10. Makes sure the child understands what has happened and what is happening to them.

ARE CHILD ADVOCATES INDEPENDENT OF CHILD SERVICES?

Yes they are. If ever it is the case that an advocate is the employee of the local authority or a school then they must only act in the best interest of the child taking the child’s wishes and feelings into consideration.

HOW WILL A CHILD ADVOCATE HELP A CHILD WITH LOCAL AUTHORITY CHILD SERVICES?

An advocate will help a looked after child in the following ways:

1. Inform child services of their wishes, views and feelings.
2. Making a complaint about child services
3. Inform child services that the child feels ignored and not listened to.   
4. Inform child services the child feels they have not been treated fairly.
5. Inform child services the child is unhappy.
6. Inform child services they have not taken the child’s wishes into consideration. 

CAN A CHILD ADVOCATE REPRESENT A CHILD IN COURT PROCEEDINGS?

No they cannot. A child advocate can only act as a witness and give evidence.

WHAT CAN A CHILD ADVOCATE NOT DO?

A child advocate CANNOT do the following: 

1. Make decisions on behalf of the child
2. Ask leading questions
3. Discriminate against the child
4. Be unaffordable
5. Talk about the child in a derogatory manner
6. Break the confidence of the child

In 2002, the department of health wrote a 32 page guide called ‘national standards for the provision of children’s advocacy services’.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR GUIDE CALLED ‘NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE PROVISION OF CHILDREN’S  ADVOCACY SERVICES.

WILL LOCAL AUTHORITY CHILD SERVICES PROVIDE AN ADVOCATE IF A CHILD WANTS TO MAKE A COMPLAINT?

Yes they will. In fact child services should provide an advocate for any child who cannot express their wishes and feelings.

The independent reviewing officer from the council will inform a looked after child that they are entitled to an independent advocate.

WILL THE CHILD ADVOCATE KEEP ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHILD CONFIDENTIAL?

Yes they should. A child should be informed if they are to be recorded and these recordings need to be kept safe and confidential. 

The only time the advocate can break the confidence of the child is if they need to inform the police, the local authority or the NSPCC about any danger.