Government must close gap in the law to ensure children are protected from abuse

In a new analysis, leading children’s charity the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) is calling on the government to give children the legal right to an independent advocate at child protection conferences ensuring they can properly express the child’s views in cases where harm, neglect and abuse are suspected.

‘Time to Listen: independent advocacy within the child protection process’  highlights official research that found in a significant number of case reviews involving the death or serious abuse or injury of a child, the child was not being properly listened to.

In light of recent high profile cases involving the abuse of children, NCB is calling on the government to amend the Children and Families Bill currently going through Parliament to ensure that children in initial and review child protection conferences have an independent advocate who can focus solely on what the child has to say.

Independent advocates are skilled practitioners who support children to express their views and talk about their experiences. ‘The report shows that their work can lead to improved outcomes ensuring the child’s needs and rights are always at the heart of decision making. It highlights examples of good practice such as the ‘Involved by Right’ initiative, a project that provides independent advocacy in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Enver Solomon, Director of Evidence and Impact at the National Children’s Bureau said: ‘Too often inquires into serious child protection failings have found that children were not asked about their views and feelings. Giving these very vulnerable children an advocate who can support them to share vital information during the child protection process is essential if lessons are to be learned and failings are to be avoided in the future.

By ensuring the child’s opinions and experiences are heeded, and providing a direct means through which they can have their voice heard, we can help children feel involved and empowered during what can be a highly distressing process. In order to effectively protect our children it is vital that their voices are listened to.’

‘Time to Listen: Independent advocacy within the child protection process’ is available from:
http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/960386/time_to_listen_-_independent_advocacy_in_the_child_protection_process.pdf