Full Description
Children's advocacy has grown enormously in recent years. However, while quality standards provide a useful framework for guiding advocacy practice, not enough is known about the current state of advocacy practice on the ground. Central questions remain unanswered: what impact has advocacy had? What lessons have been learned? What are children's own views of advocacy? This timely overview, aimed at a wide audience of policy makers, health and social care professionals and advocacy practitioners, identifies key themes and debates and explores important issues, including strengths, weaknesses and dilemmas in advocacy practice. It highlights our present state of knowledge about advocacy, and indicates where further research is needed.
Contents
1. Introduction Aims of the review Research methods Researching advocacy The evidence base Methodological issues 2. The growth of children's advocacy: legal, policy and social contexts International and national law Policy Children's services Social work practice Child protection The family 3. What is advocacy? Definitions 4. Underpinning concepts Participation Citizenship and rights Empowerment Autonomy Consumerism 5. Advocacy models Professional advocacy Citizen advocacy Self-advocacy Peer advocacy Other dimensions of advocacy practice 6. Advocacy and related roles Social work Guardians ad litem Independent visitors Independent persons Children's rights officers Children's perspectives 7. The delivery of advocacy services The development of children's advocacy Organisational issues Training Record keeping Funding Independence 8. Key issues in advocacy practice Welfare or rights? Age and capacity Disability and capacity Conflicts of interest Child protection Working in partnership Confidentiality Implications for good practice Interagency working Empowering children and young people 9. Does advocacy work? External factors Access Professional resistance Organisational cultures Internal factors Organisational factors Outcomes for looked after children and young people Impact of advocacy on children's services Evaluation frameworks 10. Conclusions Key issues in advocacy practice Skills and knowledge required Key principles for good advocacy practice Evidence for the impact of advocacy Criteria and methods for evaluation advocacy 11. Some implications for policy and practice For all For policy makers For advocacy services For local authorities and other commissioners of services 12. Summary of key points Background: legal, policy and social context What is advocacy? Underpinning concepts Advocacy models Advocacy and related roles Delivery of advocacy services Key issues in advocacy practice Does advocacy work? Conclusions
