MERLIN - VOICE FOR THE CHILDREN IN CARE
At the October WASGAP meeting, we were pleased to welcome Merlin who spoke about
the work of the organization Voice for the Child in Care. This is a small charity
supporting children in public care. Its origins go right back to the 1970s and the
Maria Colwell case.
Most advocates come from Social Care or Educational backgrounds. Some have come from
the Care System. All are trained.
Merlin described VCC’s task as campaigning to make the care system better. They do this
in a variety of ways:
Advocacy: VCC has skilled, trained advocates providing an advocacy service
for young people in care. VCC’s role is to represent the “wishes and feelings of young
people.” They say what the young person asks them to say at reviews, planning meetings, etc.,
at times when they have concerns about their care or want to make a complaint. Merlin
explained that whilst the advocate may try to engage the young person in thinking through
the implications of the viewpoint they are expressing, it is not the advocate’s role to do
other than represent the view of the young person.
Children in foster care: VCC are contracted to work individually with a large
number of children in foster care.
Secure units: VCC provide a visiting advocacy service to most secure units
across England & Wales.
Residential Homes: Through regular visits to residential homes VCC staff
become familiar to young people placed there, earning their trust and confidence, and helping
them to sort out their problems.
Independent Services: VCC has been at the forefront of developing complaints
procedures for children and families under the Children Act of 1989. It has a respected
Independent Person Service and Independent Investigating Officer Service and mediators
who can offer alternative ways to respond to complaints.
Secure Accomodation Review Panels: VCC provides an independent panel member
to sit on these panels at the request of the responsible local authority. This ensures that
a child only remains in a secure unit if the criteria for continuing a secure placement
still apply.
The Blueprint Project: Consulting young people and professionals about the
Care System so as to provide a Blueprint for a better one. The project involves four or
five local authorities and a lot of young people all over the country working towards a
blueprint for a child-centred care system.
Training: VCC can provide trainers, including young people, on topics such as
Advocacy, Children’s rights, Care Leavers, Complaints and Participation.
NB In Worcestershire the advocacy service is provided by the NSPCC and known as
CARS, although VCC are willing to be involved in most geographical areas.
There is a free phone line: 0808 800 5792
SUE
WASGAP
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