All looked after children have the right to receive confidential advice, support and information from an independent advocate. Your advocate can also help you to make a complaint if you are unhappy about:
- the support you are receiving from children’s services
- your accommodation
- your education provision
An advocate will:
- meet you regularly
- listen to you and offer positive support
- make sure your voice is heard
- advise you of your rights and the complaints process
- help you to contribute to plans that involve you
- help you build your support network
- represent you at professional meetings
- assist you to make a complaint or to fill in forms
- help increase your self confidence
- help to empower you to make positive decisions
Confidential support
What you discuss with your advocate or mentor is confidential. There are a few exceptions to this. They may have to pass on information if you speak about:
- you hurting yourself (suicide or self-harm)
- someone threatening or hurting you
- you saying you might hurt someone else, or knowing if someone else will get hurt
- a crime is about to be committed, or they have information that might catch someone who committed a crime
In these situations the co-ordinator might have to tell other people, for example the police or social services. They will always try to inform you if they have to tell people outside Junction 21, unless it is an emergency and there isn’t time.
