WP3101A - Avocacy for Parents Service for Parents with a Disability

Tender description

Walsall Council intends to commission an organisation to deliver a borough wide service that will support parents who have a learning disability, and /or a physical /sensory disability, and /or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) The service will provide support to individuals with a disability who may require advocacy or information. The service will provide emotional and practical support aimed at short term crisis advocacy for parents with a disability involved with the child protection service. A family centred approach should be taken to parenting support to help support individuals and respond to the needs of all family members (including fathers). Where applicable the identification of needs should start as soon as a pregnancy has been confirmed to allow individuals the benefit from parenting education programmes. The service will need to ensure that all staff have an in-depth knowledge of children’s safeguarding, adult safe guarding, court processes, law and experience of completing court reports. Independent advocates can help parents say what they want to say, and can help them to follow through on decisions they have taken. Advocates are able to support individuals to access support from social care, secure suitable housing, negotiate meetings with children’s schools etc.