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83 Warrington Children's Services Procedures Manual
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136 <h1>
136 Advocacy and Independent Visitors
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 RELATED GUIDANCE
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Child
ren_Act_Guidance_2015.pdf#page=106" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
144 The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations Volume 2: care planning, placement and case
review
144 </a>
144 </p>
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145 <a
href="https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-publications/publications
-library/advocacy-services-children-and-young-peop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
145 Advocacy Services for Children and Young People – A Guide for Commissioners (The
Children's Society)
145 </a>
145 </p>
146 <p class="bold">
146 LOCAL INFORMATION
146 </p>
147 <p>
147 <a href="https://www.nyas.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
147 Advocacy Service
147 </a>
147 </p>
148 <p>
148 <a href="files/nyas_cp_conference.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
148 Child Protection Conference
148 </a>
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149 <a href="files/nyas_voice_poster.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
149 Have You a Right to Get Your Voice Heard Poster
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149 </p>
150 <a href="files/nyas_right_advocacy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
150 Have you a Right to an Advocate?
150 </a>
150 </div>
157 <div class="section">
157 <h2 id="advocates">
157 1. Advocates
157 </h2>
158 <p>
158 The rights of Children in Care to have a say in decisions about their lives is enshrined in
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the Children Act 1989.
Before making any decision with respect to a child who the local authority is looking after
or proposing to look after, the authority must ascertain the wishes and feelings of the
child. Where children have difficulty in expressing their wishes or feelings about any
decisions made about them, consideration must be given to securing the support of an
advocate. See also
158 <a
href="https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-publications/publications
-library/advocacy-services-children-and-young-peop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
158 Advocacy Services for Children and Young People – A Guide for Commissioners (The
Children's Society)
158 </a>
158 .
158 </p>
159 <p>
159 An appointment of an advocate for a Child in Care is necessary where a child wishes to be
represented at a meeting (for example a Case Review) or assisted in making a complaint or
bringing a matter to the attention of the care provider, the local authority or the
regulatory authority.
159 </p>
160 <p>
160 Information must be provided to all Children in Care about how they can gain access to a
suitably skilled Independent Advocate.
160 </p>
161 <p>
161 This information should be included in the Children's Guide or provided to them at any time
by their social worker or Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) especially where their wishes
and feelings may not be in accordance with plans being made for them. Information should be
in a range of accessible formats.
161 </p>
162 Assistance must also be given to enable an Advocate to be appointed for the child for example
by approaching the independent organisation on behalf of the child. Particular consideration
needs to be given to the needs of disabled children, very young children, children placed out
of the local authority area and those with complex communication needs who need the support
of an advocate.
163 <h3>
163 1.1
163 <a id="duties">
163 </a>
163 Duties of an Advocate
163 </h3>
164 <p>
164 An advocate's key objective is to promote children and young people's central involvement in
decisions affecting their lives. The nature of support advocacy provides varies considerably
as it is dependent upon each local authority's commissioning arrangements, but every service
follows core principles:
164 </p>
165 <ul>
166 <li>
166 The advocate should not be directive or judgmental but help the young person to express
their views;
166 </li>
167 <li>
167 Young people should be offered full information in expressing their views;
167 </li>
168 <li>
168 Young people should decide upon the best course of action;
168 </li>
169 <li>
169 The advocate should always remain fully supportive of the young person.
169 </li>
170 </ul>
171 </div>
172 <div class="section1">
172 </div>
178 <div class="section">
178 <h2 id="ind_vis">
178 2. Independent Visitors
178 </h2>
179 <h3>
179 2.1
179 <a id="when_appt">
179 </a>
179 When to Appoint
179 </h3>
180 <p>
180 An appointment of an Independent Visitor for a Child in Care must be made:
180 </p>
181 <ul>
182 <li>
182 Where it appears to be in the best interests of the child to make such an appointment.
182 </li>
183 </ul>
184 <p>
184 A decision to appoint an independent visitor will usually be made at a child's Case Review
except where the child is placed in secure accommodation, in which case arrangements must be
made by the child's social worker for the appointment to take place as soon as practicable
after the placement.
184 </p>
185 <p>
185 A local authority should assess whether it would be appropriate to appoint an independent
visitor for the child they are looking after if either of the following is satisfied:
185 </p>
186 <ul>
187 <li>
187 It appears that communication between the child and parent has been infrequent;
187 </li>
188 <li>
188 the child has not been visited (or has not lived with) a parent or any person who is not
the child's parent but who has parental responsibility for the child, during the preceding
12 months.
188 </li>
189 </ul>
190 <p>
190 The local authority should consider the following factors when deciding if it is the
child's interests to consider appointing an independent visitor.
190 </p>
191 <ul>
192 <li>
192 Whether the child is placed at a distance from home;
192 </li>
193 <li>
193 Whether the child is unable to go out independently or experiences difficulties in
communication and building positive relationships;
193 </li>
194 <li>
194 Whether the child is likely to engage in behaviour which puts them at risk as a result of
peer pressure or forming inappropriate relationships with older people;
194 </li>
195 <li>
195 Whether a child placed in a residential setting would benefit from a more individualised
setting; and
195 </li>
196 <li>
196 Whether it would make a contribution to promoting the child's health and education.
196 </li>
197 </ul>
198 <p>
198 Where an appointment is considered necessary, the child's social worker will identify a
suitable person to be appointed. The Independent Visitor may be a person already known to
the child and independent of the local authority who may be suitable.
198 </p>
199 <p>
199 Before the appointment is made, the proposed Independent Visitor must have been checked with
the Disclosure and Barring Service, local Children's Services and Probation records and have
the agreement of the social worker's manager. The appointment must be confirmed in writing
and the visitor must provide the names of two personal referees.
199 </p>
200 <p>
200 The child must be consulted about the appointment and if they object, the appointment should
not be made.
200 </p>
201 <h3>
201 2.2
201 <a id="dut_vis">
201 </a>
201 Duties of Independent Visitor
201 </h3>
202 <p>
202 The Independent Visitor will have a duty to make regular visits to the child and maintain
other contact, by telephone and letter as appropriate.
202 </p>
203 <p>
203 The main purpose of the visits and contacts will be to:
203 </p>
204 <ul>
205 <li>
205 Befriend the child;
205 </li>
206 <li>
206 Give advice and assistance as appropriate with the aim of promoting the child's
development and social, emotional, educational, religious and cultural needs;
206 </li>
207 <li>
207 Encourage the child to exercise their rights and participate in decisions which will
affect them;
207 </li>
208 <li>
208 Support the care plan for the child;
208 </li>
209 <li>
209 Complement the activities of the carers.
209 </li>
210 </ul>
211 <p>
211 On appointing an independent visitor the local authority will decide how much information to
give them about the child's current situation and history. The child should be involved in
deciding what information is made available to the independent visitor. Independent visitors
have no right to inspect a child's file. No information should be withheld if it places the
child or visitor at risk.
211 </p>
212 <p>
212 Local authorities should arrange for the preparation of carers and provide them with support
and explanation about the role of independent visitors.
212 </p>
213 <h4>
213 Expenses
213 </h4>
214 <p>
214 The independent visitor is entitled to recover from the local authority expenses which is
intended to cover travel and "out of pocket" expenses. The need for an independent
visitor to continue their relationship with a young person on an informal basis once they
cease to be looked after should be considered. The local authority should consider if it is
appropriate to meet the cost of expenses until the after care responsibilities expire.
214 </p>
215 <p>
215 The Independent Visitor should also encourage the child to participate in decision-making.
215 </p>
216 The views of the Independent Visitor should be sought before each Case Review to which they
should be invited if the child requests it.
217 <h3>
217 2.3
217 <a id="rev_appt">
217 </a>
217 Review of Appointment
217 </h3>
218 <p>
218 The need to continue the appointment should be considered at the child's Case Reviews, and
the child's wishes and feelings will be the main consideration in deciding the need for the
continued appointment.
218 </p>
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