The impact of independent advocacy for children and young people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Independent advocacy: Impact and outcomes for children and young people
IRAS ID
176829
Contact name
Nigel Thomas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Office of the Children's Commissioner
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 4 days
Research summary
This research is about the impact and outcomes of independent advocacy for children and young people, and how this is measured by advocacy services. It is important to know whether independent advocacy is representing children and young people’s views, and helping to bring about beneficial changes in their care and support. Understanding this from children and young people’s perspective is important given the purpose of advocacy is to ensure they have a voice in the system.
This study is part of a wider project being undertaken by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner in England (OCC) concerning advocacy and relates to children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 12 – every child has the right to say what they think in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously. It relates specifically to those children and young people who come into the remit of the OCC with new section 8A of the Children Act 2004 (children living away from home or receiving social care) and others who are at particular risk of having their rights infringed.
The focus is individual advocacy, where children’s rights have been infringed or where they may not otherwise be adequately heard. The types of sites will include advocacy services for looked after children and young people commissioned from national independent agencies (such as Coram Voice); large voluntary organisations (such as Barnardo’s); local authority Children’s Rights services; and small local advocacy services. In addition, the study includes mental health advocacy providers and advocacy to secure settings commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (currently from Barnardo’s).
The study runs from January until November 2015 and involves one-off interviews with children and young people participants in different sites between April to August.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
15/IEC08/0017
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion