BSL Launch Recite Me assistive technology myaccountMyAccount login image

Independent advocacy for children and young people

Independent advocacy is a way to help children and young people make their voice stronger and to have as much control as possible over their own life. Advocacy safeguards individuals who are in situations where they are vulnerable, it speaks up for and with people who are not being heard, helping them to express their views and make their own decisions and contributions.

There is no single lead policy on advocacy, instead advocacy is intertwined with many policy and legislative areas such as:

  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12)
  • The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
  • Patient’s Rights (Scotland) Act 2011
  • The Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011
  • The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
  • The Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015
  •  The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended)

Advocacy is about empowering children and young people to make sure that their rights are respected and that their views and wishes are fully considered and reflected in decision making about their own lives.

Advocacy has been available to children and young people for many years and South Lanarkshire’s main commissioned Advocacy Provider is Who Cares? Scotland.

Advocacy in the Children’s Hearings System (CHS) (Guidance document) was published by the Scottish Government in March 2020. Advocacy providers were commissioned nationally and in South Lanarkshire, the support to children and young people going through the Children’s Hearings System is provided by Partners in Advocacy.

Nationwide Independent advocacy for children aged 12-15 with additional support needs in education under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended) is provided by Partners in Advocacy. This is delivered as part of the My Rights, My Say service in partnership with Children in Scotland and Cairn Legal.

The Lanarkshire Advocacy Plan 2020-2025 is a collaborative partnership plan between North and South Lanarkshire Councils, North and South Health and Social Care Partnerships, NHS Lanarkshire and Advocacy Providers.