Children’s Commissioner for Wales uses powers to review child advocacy provision

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales is to invoke his statutory powers for the first time with a review of the provision of independent professional advocacy for looked-after children.

Keith Towler will also examine services for young people, care leavers and other children in need and report early next year.

He will use powers derived from the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales Regulations 2001 to review these services.

Under the Children Act 1989 and Adoption and Children Act 2002, every local authority has a statutory obligation to provide independent professional advocacy for looked after children, care leavers and others in need who want to take part in, or comment on, decisions about their lives. Advocates should also be provided if a complaint is made.

Mr Towler will examine all 22 Welsh councils and also relevant Welsh Assembly Government ministries to find out whether the services provided are adequate.

He said he decided to undertake the review because of cases in which local authority officers were unaware of their statutory obligation on advocacy or where vulnerable children lacked an advocate because they were unaware of their entitlement to support.

The commissioner also plans a scoping exercise looking at practice across the UK. Mr Towler said: ”I am very concerned that some children and young people within these vulnerable groups are being denied access to an independent professional advocate.

“The role of the advocate is to support the child and to help the child understand what’s being discussed and agreed.

“Central to that role is ensuring that all those involved listen to the views expressed by the child and or to communicate those views on behalf of the child. This is particularly important when decisions are being made about their lives.”

Mr Towler said he wanted his review to provide local authorities and others with an opportunity to learn lessons “so that ultimately we can ensure these vulnerable groups of children and young people never go without the services of an independent professional advocate when they need one”.