Advocacy

Your right to be heard and taken seriously

You have a right to be involved in all decisions about your plans for leaving care. You also have a right to support from an independent advocate (someone who will support you) if you want to challenge decisions about the support we give you.

An advocate can do the following:

• Give you information and advice so you understand your rights
• Make sure people listen to you and know what’s important to you
• Help you speak out at your reviews or other meetings

Having someone around to help you say what you want can make things easier, and your advocate will listen to you, and may also help you to make a complaint if you wish to do so. Please see our complaints page if you wish to make a complaint about Children's Services.

Shout Out! Advocacy service

Advocates are independent and separate from our Children’s Services. In Bath and North East Somerset, our Children in Care and Moving on Team work alongside the Shout Out! Advocacy service.

Young people seeking asylum

If you're a young person seeking asylum, you should have access to a solicitor with the necessary qualification to promote your application to remain in the UK. Your social worker, PA or foster carer will help you attend appointments.