1.4.1 Advocacy and Interpreting Services |
1. Advocacy Services
Children's Services can arrange for advocacy services to be made available from VOICE for the following categories of children:
- Children in care
- Children attending Child Protection Conferences
- Children wishing to use the Complaints Procedure
Referrals to VOICE can be made by social workers or other appropriate person, with the knowledge and agreement of the child, or the child may self refer.
Alternatively, national advocacy organisations may be able to assist. For example the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) offers independent and confidential services including advocacy to young people who are in care or leaving care. The service provides young people with the opportunity to talk to an advocate to help them to make decisions. There is a freephone line which is staffed by counsellors from ChildLine.
2. Interpreting and Translating Services
When communication with a child is necessary for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting that child’s welfare, and the first language of that child is not English, an interpreter must be used. In cases where the use of an interpreter is dispensed with, the reasons for so doing must be recorded in the child’s case file.
The use of an interpreter should also be considered when verbal English communication is a difficulty for any child and/or his or her family. The help of a family member or friend in such circumstances can cause difficulties, as the interpreter’s own views and perspective may impinge on the meaning of the dialogue.
Where verbal dialogue is problematic, the social worker should contact the Translation and Interpreting Service to request the services of an interpreter. Contact with the services should be made at an early stage to prevent later unnecessary delay.
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