What we do
Looked After Children and Care Experienced Young Person Advocacy
Leeds Children's Rights Service is an independent advocacy service for care experienced young people and children looked after by Leeds Social Care. We support all looked after children, including disabled children, unaccompanied asylum seekers, those in secure accommodation, and those placed outside Leeds. We ensure they know their rights and are involved in decisions affecting them. Advocates can attend reviews, provide advice, help solve problems, or make complaints.
Advocacy in Child Protection
We offer advocacy for children aged 10-17 supported by a Social Worker on a Child Protection Plan. Our advocates help ensure children’s wishes are heard at Child Protection meetings. They can attend meetings on behalf of children or support them to attend, acting as the child’s voice independently from social workers, teachers, or carers. Advocates keep children informed in a way they understand and meet them in comfortable places such as school or home.
Advocacy in Child in Need
We sometimes support children aged 10-17 on a Child in Need plan with a Social Worker in Leeds
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
We provide advocacy for non-looked after children making allegations against professionals, with LADO involvement. If a child’s family can’t support them, we ensure their statement is independently received and their voice represented in meetings, attending on their behalf or supporting them to attend. We keep them fully informed of outcomes.
Special Educational Needs Disability (SEND)
We offer independent advocacy for young people unhappy with any part of their Education Health Care Plan (EHC). We support them to be heard about their personal health care needs during decision-making.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this support, please contact us. More info is available on our social media and Padlet—links on this page.
We can help with
- We provide one-to-one support for children and young people looked-after by their local authority. We also help other young people in need of support, such as those on a child protection plan. Our mental health advocacy services work with children and young people receiving or wanting mental health support. Children and young people have a right to be heard and involved in decisions about them, so we support them by explaining their wishes and arguing their case. We also provide activities and training for families and professionals.
- If you are a parent/carer, find out more about Advocacy and participation (children in care)
- Search for Advocacy and participation (children in care) services
- Children and young people have a right to be heard and involved in decisions about them, so we enable and support them to participate in decision making processes.
- Search for Rights and participation services
- Leaving home can be a challenge for anyone, but it can be even tougher if you’re a young person leaving care. We support young people with their transition to independent living, by offering advice, supported lodgings and help getting a job.
- If you are a parent/carer, find out more about Leaving care
- Search for Leaving care services