Dudley Advocacy
Supporting independent decision making...
Parent Advocacy
Resources
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London Parents Network
Voiceability Parents Booklet
Written for, and by, parents who have learning disabilities, this booklet tells you what happens if Children's Services feel your child is at risk of harm.
The booklet explains in easy to understand words and pictures:
- Who normally makes decisions about child protection
- What happens when Children’s Services get involved
- The Child Protection Process
- What happens at different meetings
- Emergency Protection Orders
- What happens in court
- Different legal orders
- Adoption and Fostering processes
What do parents with a learning disability say they want from support services ?
Parents do not have a statuatory right to advocacy support, this means that very often parents with a learning disability are put at a disadvantage when attending any child protection meetings. Dudley Advocacy gained funding via Lloyds TSB to offer a part time service for two years. Our Parent Advocate will support parents with a learning disability whose children are at risk of being taken into care.
According to the Department of Health (2007) there are five key features of good practice in working with parents with learning disabilities:
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Accessible information and communication
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Clear and co-ordinated referral and assessment procedures and processes, eligibility criteria and care pathways
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Support designed to meet the needs of parents and children based on assessments of their needs and strengths
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Long-term support where necessary
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Access to independent advocacy.
So what do we actually do ?
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We aim to empower parents to participate in the child protection process by making sure they understand what is happening and feel their own views are being heard.
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Promote good working relationships between parents and any agencies involved in the child protection case.
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Signpost and refer to organisations that can offer support.
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Speak to us 1:1 first, not at a meeting.
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No long complicated letters.
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Be clear about contact arrangements.
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Don’t change meetings at the last minute.
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Use clear simple language.
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Speak to us with respect.
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Listen to us.
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Give us time to get our points of view across.
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Don’t use jargon.
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Don’t pre-judge us.
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Make sure everyone tells us the same information.
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Give a reason why the new standard or action is needed.
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Leave a concrete reminder e.g. chart, rota, plan.
Taken from www.building-bridges-training.org.