Children’s advocacy standards set to be revised under public consultation

Advocates4U, co-ordinated by children’s rights charity Article 39, said the announcement by children’s minister Vicky Ford that the national standards would be publicly scrutinised was a “fantastic development”.

The group said it hoped the move would more clearly outline the responsibility of local authorities to ensure every child or young person who needs an advocate could access one.

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The publication of its progress report on Thursday comes a year after children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield launched her second investigation of advocacy services for children and young people.

At the time, the commissioner put forward 10 recommendations for improving the availability and effectiveness of these services, among which was a requirement for local authorities to set out a local offer strategy showing how advocacy would be delivered.

In a foreword to the report, Longfield said she welcomed the Department for Education’s announcement in March of a consultation as a “first step” in acting on the recommendations of her own report and ensuring some of the key issues identified were addressed.

She said she was pleased to see the work of the Advocates4U group drive forward each of the 10 recommendations, particularly drafting a bill which would consolidate children and young people’s entitlements to advocacy.

“But there is still much more to be done. In spite of the vital importance of making children’s wishes and feelings central to decision-making processes, which so affect their lives, too often their voices go unheard,” she said.

Carolyne Willow, director of charity Article 39, said the decision to revise the national advocacy standards and regulations this year would “hugely strengthen” the support and help children and young people receive.

“It’s a sad reality that the perspective and feelings of children and young people are often only properly taken into account when they have an independent advocate standing alongside them who knows the law and can skilfully amplify their voices,” she said.

The campaign group, which also includes Coram Voice, National Youth Advisory Service (NYAS) and the National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers, said its progress report charted national and local development made since June last year around ensuring children and young people’s access to high quality independent advocacy services.

Brigid Robinson, managing director of Coram Voice, said its independent advocates supported children on a daily basis to make sure their rights were upheld.

“We are keen to see the new standards and a strengthening of children’s access to advocacy, ensuring children get high quality independent advocacy when, and where, they need it,” she said.