Family Advocacy What is Family Advocacy - Child Protection? An independent advocacy service to support vulnerable adults involved in Child Protection cases. For Wiltshire Children’s Advocacy Service, click here. How can I contact an advocate? You need to be referred to the Family Advocacy service by a social worker, health services professional, or solicitor. What can an Advocate do? The Family Advocacy service offers a range of options, allowing referrers to select the specific type of support they require for each individual case. An advocate can: Accompany parents at Child Protection Conference, Reviews or Court Hearings Support parents at meetings with professionals Meet parents to prepare for or follow up Child Protection Conferences/Reviews/Court Hearings/other meetings with Professionals to ensure that parents understand decisions and actions Benefits Supports parents through the complexities of child protection process More positive outcomes for children and parents Reduces demand for future support service Contributes to reduction in number of cases taken to court How? Helps parents to understand the decisions that are made about them/their child Helps parents to understand the importance of engaging in activities/actions demanded by social services/courts as part of the child protection plan Helps parents to express their views and wishes to ensure they have been heard Speaks on parents’ behalf if they are unhappy about the way they are being treated by social services or they are worried about plans being made Helps parents to understand their rights Helps parents to make a complaint What is the cost? Family Advocacy is a subsidised service. The cost is £30 per hour, plus expenses. There is a minimum purchase of 16 hours (12 hours face to face plus 4 hours administration time). CCP advocates can support parents at any stage in the Child Protection process – see examples below How to access the CCP Advocacy Service: Call us on 01242 694535 Click here to Email the Advocacy Service A referral form for Family Advocacy - Child Protection Advocacy is available by clicking on the Referral Forms icon at the bottom of the page.