Children's Rights, Advocacy and Independent Visitors Services

Children's Rights and Advocacy - Objective:

To provide information, advice and support to looked after children in order to make their views known to people making decisions about their care. Children's Rights staff should help Cared for Children to speak for themselves or represent their views depending on the preferences and abilities of the child.

Specifically, Children's Rights staff will be required to:

• Provide understandable information, appropriate to the child or young person's age and circumstances, about available services and provide help to access them.

• Have regular meetings with the child or young person and attend care related meetings to represent them if that is what the child or young person wants.

• Support the young person in making complaints through the Complaints Procedures.

• Support contact with other individuals who have a key stake in the lives of cared for children e.g. parent, foster carer, social workers, residential staff.

Independent Visitors

Objective:

To befriend and visit individual cared for children and young people, who have infrequent or no contact and communication with their parents.

Specifically, Independent Visitors should:

• Be independent of the local authority

• Encourage and engage with the child or young person in achieving their social, educational, emotional, religious/cultural wishes and desires and ambitions.

• Be a friend and listen to concerns and anxieties that the child or young person may want to share.

• Engage in activities and offer encouragement for the child and young person to participate in their care planning and to help to resolve any difficulties.

• Help the child or young person to seek specialist help and advice and co-ordinate with the appointed advocate where that is required and relevant.

Tender Documents

• Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder → — Tender notice