What we do
Advocacy support
If you are:
- a child or young person living in care aged 0 to 19 years
- a young person up to the age of 21 years who has left the care system and living independently
- a social worker
- independent reviewing officer
- foster carer
- children’s residential unit worker
- parent, relative or friend
- any other professional who works with a child or young person placed in care
- thinking of volunteering.
We are here to help you - please take time to read on to see how we can work together to make positive changes to improve the lives of children and young people.
Our advocates provide a listening ear and enable children and young people who live in care to voice their wishes and feelings. We work closely with our service users, building their confidence and self esteem to empower them to participate fully in all decisions made about them and their lives in care. Speak to us in confidence – only if you are in danger would we tell someone else.
Let us tell you about a young person in care who has used our advocacy service:
Real story:
H is a young woman with very complex issues. H was a looked after young person who became involved with drugs and was imprisoned for theft. H became pregnant and felt unable to care for the baby who was then put up for adoption. Through this traumatic period in her life her advocate was able to support, advise, attend meetings and visit her in prison to ensure that her wishes and feeling were heard. This young person has overcome a lot in her young life but still needs the support of her advocate at different times.
“I think my advocate understood my point of view very well and helped me put this across to my social worker.” Young person
Participation
Our participation team facilitates group work for all children and young people throughout the Wakefield area. They encourage the child or young person in care to put forward their ideas to Wakefield family services to continuously improve the services they receive.
The team works with all children and young people throughout the Wakefield district holding consultation events to get their ideas and suggestions to develop services.
They also support children and young people to facilitate training courses for professionals. For example, our disability respect group gives young people with special needs the opportinity to facilitate training aimed at improving participation with young people who have similar needs.
Some examples of the participation work they undertake is:
- annual mayor's award event - that recognises the achievements of Wakefield's children and young people and support a group of young people to make decisions on the level of award to be attained
- 'cool kids' - a disabled youth forum giving young people a platform from which to ensure their views are listened to and acted upon with the SEN (special educational needs) board.
- Download our brochure specially for children. (PDF)
Independent Visitors, Befriending and Peer Mentoring services
Independent visitors and befriending
“I enjoy time with my independent visitor, we get to go out and try different things – it’s fun.” Young person
The Independent Visitor Service is there for you if you are a young person who is looked after by Wakefield Local Authority. Do you have little or no contact with adult family members and under the age of 21? If the answer is no then you could have an independent visitor who will:
- visit you
- take you out
- listen to you
- offer advice and support.
If you answered yes, you may still be eligible to have someone to befriend you which is very similar to having and independent visitor but the age limit for this is 19 years.
Peer mentoring
"I loved every second of this course" ZS
Peer mentoring is about young people supporting younger ones by meeting regularly and passing on their experiences. We have an accreditted peer mentoring course open to young people 15 plus where you can learn new skills, have fun and meet new people. If this sounds good then join our peer mentoring programme.
For professionals
The Independent Visitor, Befriending and Peer Mentoring Services are available to all children and young people looked after by Wakefield Local Authority providing they meet certain criteria.
To be eligible to access the Independent Visitor Service a young person must be under the age of 21 years, where there is little or no contact between adult family members and the child. The age limit for the other services is 19.
Our bank of volunteers from all walks of life provide all these services. They are individuals who take an interest in the young person’s life they support, offer advice and encourage them to reach their true potential. All our volunteers are CRB checked and other references sought, they are trained to a high standard and fully supported by Wakefield CAPS.
Click on the link below to access our brochure for professionals:
Exit interviews
The exit interview is undertaken by means of a questionnaire, the purpose being to establish how successful a previous placement has been or if there is any room for improvement. This also enables us to address any issues that may arise out of the questionnaire, for example, a young person’s complaint or a safeguarding matter.
The information is then collated by Wakefield metropolitan district council – Family Services, who use this to further improve their services to children and young people for whom they have corporate responsibility.
Practice teaching
Within our services we have qualified practice teachers. Each year they are mentors to 1 or 2 social work students who come to our service from various universities to gain practical experience and to receive guidance on the theoretical work that they have to undertake. Places are limited and the usual route to gaining a placement with our service is through their university tutor.
For more information on any of the above, please phone Wakefield CAPS on 01977 552493 or email Wakefield CAPS.
