CYP(3)-AS-16

Children and Young People’s Committee - Call for Evidence into Advocacy Services for Young People

As the provider of Second Voice Advocacy Service to young people in Wrexham we are delighted that the Assembly Government is committed to making provision for advocacy services a priority through the Development of a New Service Model for Delivering Advocacy Services for Young People and establishment of a Children’s Advocacy Unit and welcomes the opportunity to comment on the proposals

We agree with the proposal that local YPPs should be charged with ensuring advocacy services are provided in their area. This has been the case in Wrexham. However, we are concerned that there appears to be an underlying presumption that local authorities are compromised in their ability to commission or provide independent services when many of the complaints/ concerns of young people relate to services that they in fact provide. This is definitely not the case in Wrexham.

The integrity of the authority in standing by its commitment to the rights and entitlements of young people is demonstrated by the support the service receives from partners, officers and members. Equally the confidence of young people in the quality and independent support provided by Second Voice is demonstrated by their take up of services and their expressed satisfaction of their consequent experiences.

We believe there is a danger in only commissioning non local authority services in the mistaken belief that independence and integrity is only to be found in the third sector. It would also be a mistake to only commission a nationally based service, previous experience with the withdrawal of the Children’s Society and the difficulties experienced by Tros Gynal bears testament to this.

Wrexham INFO Shop is an integrated information, advice and counselling service for young people 11-25, that is also home to a sexual health service and Second Voice Advocacy Service. Each element of the service is interlinked and offers young people a seamless service. In practice this ensures young people’s issues are dealt with promptly and appropriately.

The 'shop’ is a local authority project and before Second Voice advocacy service was established, the shop performed an advocacy role in dealing with the many enquiries it received from young people. In the 8 years the service has been in operation, independence has never been an issue in advocating for young people in accessing their rights and entitlements.

Young people are happy to access services where they are confident their issue, problem, complaint or dissatisfaction will be listened to and their case dealt with appropriately and transparently regardless of the provider of the service. The integrity of the council in providing this service and the integrity of the staff and advocates involved has never been in question. The willingness of young people to engage with the service bears testament to this.

Second Voice has been in operation since October 2005 and in that time there have been 82 referrals. 40 of these (49%) have related to the following local authority provision:

Housing - 15

Education - 11

Safeguarding Unit - 11

Youth Offending Service - 2          

Youth Service - 1   

Feedback from a recent Estyn Inspection was positive.