Written Statement: National Approach to Statutory Advocacy for Children and Young People

Today I am publishing the National Approach to Statutory Advocacy (National Approach) task and finish group legacy document. This outlines the work we have carried out since 2015 to improve advocacy services for some of our more vulnerable children and young people. We are committed to improving access to advocacy services.

This document and details of the core components of the National Approach are available online at: https://gov.wales/task-finish-group-tfg-national-approach-statutory-advocacy-children-and-young-people

As part of the National Approach, and the wider offer of advocacy support, we have established an ‘active offer’ of advocacy for children and young people underpinned by statutory guidance and regulations.

This provides a clear entitlement to an offer of advocacy from a statutory Independent Professional Advocate. This entitlement applies when children become looked after or become the subject of child protection enquiries leading to an Initial Child Protection Conference.

The National Approach also ensures a consistent and co-ordinated approach to advocacy services is available across the six regions in Wales, through a common service specification and a performance reporting template. This provides for uniform and consistent local, regional, and national quantitative and qualitative evidence gathering and reporting.

I have long believed that advocacy is essential to protecting the rights of children and young people and ensuring their views, wishes, and feelings are heard, respected, and taken seriously.

Good advocacy can have a profound effect on the lives of children and young people.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the considerable contribution everyone involved in this work has made and will continue to make to the lives of children and young people.