St Helens Council - Children's Rights, Independent Visitors & Advocacy Service April 2016

Tender description

St Helens Council has a requirement for an integrated and seamless service for the provision of a Children’s Rights, Independent Visitors & Advocacy Service due to start in April 2016. The aim of the Children’s Rights, Advocacy & Independent Visitors Service is to provide children and young people who are in, or who are on the edge of public care (including children in need as defined by Section 17 (10) of the Children Act 1989) with St Helens Local Authority, as well as other defined service users, with awareness of and access to services which are their legal right. The services will be for children and young people aged up to 19. The service will meet the statutory responsibility of the Council to meet its duties in providing the above service for children and young people in St Helens. Our children and young people tell us they would like a service that ‘can help you, listen and make a difference’. At the time of writing the specification there are 393 children looked after by St Helens LA. In addition there are 385 child protection plans in place. The majority of our looked after children are in Foster Placements. The overall service will provide the three elements: • Children’s Rights service • Advocacy service • Independent Visitors service Keywords: Children's Rights, Independent Visitors, Children, Rights, Advocacy, Independent