An Advocate makes sure that your views and wishes are heard. We help you speak out when things go wrong, make sure you get the support you need and help you understand your rights.

WHAT IS AN ADVOCATE?

The role of an advocate is to offer independent support to those who feel they are not being heard and to ensure they are taken seriously and that their rights are respected. It is also to assist people to access and understand appropriate information and services.

We have translated our Advocacy offer into 4 languages - French, Pashto, Arabic, and Kurdish Sorani if you need help understanding our offer in any other langue please get in touch.

Prefer to watch an explanation?

This video explains what an Advocate is:

ROLES OF AN ADVOCATE

• Is always on your side.

• Is independent from other services and just works for you

• Listens to you and helps you say what you want.

• Makes sure other people listen to you.

• Supports you to be involved in meetings.

• Helps you understand what professionals are saying.

• Helps you get information you need and understand your rights.

• Supports you to make a complaint.

• Keeps information confidential unless they are worried about something.

HOW CAN AN ADVOCATE HELP ME?

In care or a care leaver

If you don’t feel listened to, Advocates can make sure people listen to you.

  • Support you if things are changing for you – like moving school/college or moving foster/residential/supported living/independent living.

  • We can support you to prepare and go to meetings with your social worker and talk about the things that are important to you.

  • If you are unhappy or worried about what is happening, we can help you sort out any problems and concerns.

  • We can tell you about your rights and things that you should get from Social care, your social worker, foster carer or where you are living.

Child Protection Conference

  • We can meet you and help you understand the meeting.

  • We can support you to have your views heard at the meeting and can either support you to attend or we can go for you.

A young person with a disability

  • We can support you to make a transition. This could be from school to college, from Children’s Services to Adult Services, or from college to work.

  • We can make sure your views are heard and that you are involved in the plans and decisions being made.

EHC Plan Review Meeting

  • We can help you prepare for adulthood by looking at your options around things like work, College, independent living, and other activities you might like to try.

  • And we can help make sure you have everything you need in your plan and your voice is heard

Aged 16 or 17 and homeless (or want to understand your housing)

  • We can help you understand your options and your rights and support you to attend meetings.

  • Talk with you about Section 20 and section 17 so you can decide which is the right option for you.

Complaint against Children’s Social Care

  • You are entitled to an Advocate to help you make a complaint.

  • We help you to understand the complaints system, write and submit your complaint and attend meetings relating to your complaint.

Click here to make a referral to Advocacy services:

If you are a social worker and would like to read the B&NES Children’s Service CIC protocol agreement with Shout Out! Advocacy please click here: