Children's rights service

About this service

Wiltshire's Children's Rights Service, provides an advocacy service that listens to, advises and supports looked-after young people from Wiltshire.

Advocates from Voice have helped young people with issues from bedrooms to bullying, from care order to contact, from pets to pocket money. Basically, if the issue is important to the young person, we are happy to support them.

Although part of the Council, it works within a framework of:

  • Independence - works solely to the wishes and feelings of children and young people, even when at times this might bring it into conflict with the council, or be putting forward a view different to an adults' view of the young person's best interests.
  • Confidentiality - the service will not share information about young people without their consent, unless there is a risk of significant harm to a young person.
  • Honesty with the young person - any information shared will be shared with the young person. The best advocates for young people are those that know them best. Usually these are parents, carers, social workers, teachers and so on. However, at times there can be a need for a professional advocate who is independent from everyone else, who does not have an agenda with the young person, or who has experience or knowledge of how the system works.

We will try to signpost other young people to more appropriate support. Young people can choose who they wish to support them. Voice usually allocates advocates, but we can support an 'informal advocate' if the young person requests this.

An advocate will visit at a time convenient to the young person. They take some background information, listen carefully to the young person, help them think about the issues and problems, and then agree what to do next. Sometimes the young person might try a different tack, sometimes the advocate might be asked to write a letter, or speak to someone, or help the young person at a meeting. The young person decides what happens next.

Needs

Voice only gets involved if young people want us to, so the first step is to explain to the young person what the service can offer, and obtain their consent to contact us. Young people can contact us directly (see contact details below), or ask people they know to contact us. Usually we need only very basic details by telephone.

Eligibility

  • Young people who are 'Looked After' (in 'public care')
  • Young people who have left care, up to the age of 21, or 24 if in full-time education
  • Young people who are making or thinking about making a complaint (about the Social Care or Youth Offending services)

Contact Details

Email: advice@ypvoice.co.uk
Telephone: Freephone: 08000 28 22 23
Mobile: 0790 999 5481
Tel: 01225 752198
Fax: 01373 827706
Postal Address:
"Voice"
Westbury Youth Development Centre
Eden Vale Road
Westbury
Wiltshire  BA13 3NY

Related Links:

Last updated: 14 September 2009