There must be an end to the false starts in making sure that advocacy services are available to some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Wales, says a National Assembly committee.
The Children, Young People and Education Committee heard evidence that independent advocacy services are vital to protect and safeguard children who are looked after by local authorities, and other children who social services are there to protect.
Despite a series of highly critical reports detailing failures over the years, the Committee was told at the beginning of its inquiry, there was still not an agreed ‘national approach’ to how these services are delivered by local authorities in Wales.
The Committee heard strong evidence about what can happen when things go wrong and these services are not in place. This dates back to the Waterhouse Inquiry report, published in 2000.
It found that the victims of decades of widespread sexual and physical abuse of children in north Wales care homes had not been believed or listened to. It also highlighted the importance of looked-after children being able to access independent advocates.
The Committee heard that between 2003 and 2014 there have been seven reports expressing concerns and making recommendations about the importance of advocacy services in Wales.
Assembly Members also heard that the Welsh Government and local authorities have been in discussion about the best way to deliver these services in Wales and how to fund them.
Members were pleased to see signs that significant progress had been made in recent months, but warned that there have been unacceptable delays.
“We are talking about some of the most vulnerable children in Wales. It is essential that eligible children and young people can easily access advocacy services and are fully aware that they exist to support them to have their views, wishes and concerns heard,”
said Lynne Neagle AM, Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee.
“The frequent new allegations of historic abuse serve to remind us that these advocacy services are essential to protect vulnerable children.”
“The delays we have seen in respect of advocacy services are unacceptable but we cautiously welcome recent developments and will be closely monitoring progress.”
The Committee makes eight recommendations in its report, including that the Welsh Government should:
- Monitor and ensure that all local authorities have actively signed up to the ‘National Approach’ by January 2017;
- Monitors annually local authority expenditure on statutory advocacy services and that it is funded in line with the population needs assessment analysis; and
- Commissions an independent review of progress at the end of the first year of implementation of the 'National Approach'.