Children and Young People Independent Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service

Children and Young People Independent Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service

Service requirements for the provision of:

An Advocacy and Independent visitor Service for:

Manchester Cared for Children and Young People who are Care Leavers.

16- and 17-year-old who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Care experience/d Children and young people who want to make a complaint or representation about the services they are receiving from the Authority.

An Independent Visitor service for Cared for children from 8 to 18 years old.

The service should Provide independent support for Our Manchester Children and Young People who are Cared for or Care Leavers to ensure their views are heard and understood where there is a dispute with the local authority plan. Ensuring that their wishes, feelings and lived experience are taken into account when decisions are being taken about their lives. The advocacy service is specifically dedicated to giving Manchester cared for children and care leavers a voice, ensuring that they are the heart of everything Manchester does and giving them practical support and personal development opportunities, resulting in both direct and wider positive outcomes in their lives and services around them. The service should develop the skills and confidence in the children they are in contact with the advocate for themselves.

The Advocacy Service should also ensure that the analysis of patterns and trends, locally, regionally and nationally from children's advocacy and the lived experience of our Manchester Children and Young People is utilised to inform local service delivery and continuous improvement.