Advocacy

An advocate is someone who will act on your behalf and help and support you to make your wishes and views known.

If you would like help in making your complaint please contact Jackie Goodman who will be able to put you in touch with an advocate who is independent of the local authority (a professional advocate).  If you are being looked after by the local authority Ray Tait, Children's Rights Officer, can help you.

His address is Ray Tait, Children's Rights Officer, NSPCC, 9 Broad Street, Worcester WR1 3LN. Telephone 01905 617975.

Children and young people sometimes want to choose their own advocate eg. a teacher, relative, carer, friend (an informal advocate).  If this person is not known to the Children's Social Care Services Directorate, checks may have to be carried out to ensure that he/she is an appropriate person to carry out the role of an advocate.

An informal advocate may know you better whereas a professional advocate will probably have more of an understanding of the complaints procedure and the way in which Children's Social Care Services operate.

If you want any further details please contact Jackie Goodman on 01905 766366