The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported on the development of a national approach to statutory advocacy for looked after children, children in need and specified individuals in Wales. 

He stated that the Welsh Ministers in October 2014 reviewed a range of evidence provided by recent reports which concluded there was a need to bring refreshed focus and impetus to securing children’s rights and entitlements ahead of the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the extended focus on advocacy for all ages.  He informed the Committee that a draft code of practice for advocacy had been issued for consultation, which specified when local authorities must consider the needs of an individual, together with the range of circumstances where an individual may face additional risks or barriers that can heighten their needs for advocacy support. 

The Association of Directors of Social Services had recognised the need to form a Strategic Leadership Group for Advocacy.  A Task and Finish Group had also been established, chaired by Colin Turner which he would continue to chair on leaving the authority and he offered to provide regular updates on the project to the Committee.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support stated that the Strategic Leadership Group and Task and Finish Group would ensure the involvement and engagement of children and young people at key stages during the development and delivery of the national approach.  He also stated that the Group will drive forward the delivery of the National Approach to Statutory Advocacy, with children and young people being at the heart of this approach.  Options would be delivered to the Minister in October 2015 for delivery of the National Approach by 1 April 2016.  He also stated that the “Active Offer” which seeks to ensure that every child eligible for independent advocacy is actively offered this will be rolled out from 1 April 2016. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported that as part of the key components there would be a performance management framework and a record of children and young people who had taken up the offer of advocacy or had turned it down.  Each local authority would be inspected against the performance management framework. 

The Cabinet Member Children’s Social Services and Equalities welcomed the proposals for developing advocacy for children and questioned the impact of the national approach on the Council’s existing contractual arrangements with Tros Gynnal Plant for the provision of independent professional advocacy services.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support stated that the Council has a 1 year rolling contract with Tros Gynnal Plant, however due to the development of the national approach it was likely advocacy would be provided on regional or national arrangements. 

In response to a question from the Committee, the Head of Safeguarding and Family Support explained the different levels at which an advocate can function and stated that most children and young people would prefer to have their teacher or youth worker represent them.  He stated it was fundamentally important that looked after children are reminded that advocacy is always available to them.

RESOLVED:                That the report be noted and that an interim report on Statutory Advocacy for Looked After Children be added to the Informal Forward Work Programme for the next meeting of the Committee and a report on the conclusion of the project be presented to the following meeting of the Committee.