Provision of Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitor Services

Advocacy is about empowering children and young people to make sure that their views and wishes are heard at all times and represented in decision making processes. The Council’s vision is that all children and young people in Southend feel listened to and empowered, have choice and control over their support, and have their rights upheld. Furthermore, the views put forward by children and young people should inform the development of the Council’s services. The service will provide advocacy and independent visiting services for the Council’s Children and Young People in Care, Care Leavers and Children and Young People who are the subject of Child Protection conferences. The Provider is to allocate suitably trained and supported advocates to children and young people referred to the service by any agreed route to 70 children or young people per annum. The Provider will deliver an Advocacy service to facilitate the voice of individual children and young people in their relationship with the Authority and other agencies as identified by young people in the care of the Authority.