Commissioner calls for immediate action on rights of children in care

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales has demanded immediate action to give every child in care a voice.

In a major report published today, ‘Missing Voices: Right to be Heard’ revealed, 63% of 384 children in care questioned did not know who their advocacy provider was.

Keith Towler said he was “frustrated by the pace of change” in providing youngsters in care in Wales access to advocacy services where an adult can speak up on a child’s behalf.

“This is a fundamental safeguarding service for children and if they don’t get their voices heard they will be feeling unsafe,” he said.

His research found over a third of children in care in Wales had never been asked if they wanted an advocate to work on their behalf.

Mr Towler said: “There are children in care today who are safer than they were 20, 30, 40 years ago but nevertheless we need to make sure we listen to what those children are saying.”

“We have got to make sure that advocacy services for our most vulnerable children be made available today, right now.”

“In short, advocacy safeguards children and young people.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said in response: “We do not agree with the conclusions reached by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.”

The administration has commissioned it’s own study and the spokesman added that initial reports were more positive: “Early messages are that children are effectively safeguarded.

“The vulnerable children interviewed knew about advocacy and knew how to access it and all local authorities take the need to commission the provision of advocacy seriously.”