WCC Parental Advocacy

Description

Parents and carers involved in statutory Child Protection processes frequently experience distress, confusion and a lack of meaningful involvement, which can lead to disengagement and poorer outcomes for families and Children / Young People (CYP). As part of Warwickshire County Council's (WCC) participation in Wave 2 of the national Families First for Children Pathfinder Programme (FFCP), there is a requirement to provide a dedicated Parental Representation and Advocacy Service to ensure families are informed, supported and empowered throughout Child Protection processes. This service aims to reduce trauma, stigma and isolation, whilst also building trust and improving engagement. Therefore, resulting in better outcomes for families and CYP. Data from November 2024 to November 2025 highlights the scale of need for this service, with 715 Section 47 (of the Children's Act 1989) enquiries (S47), and 297 Initial Child Protection Conferences (ICPC), held. These involved a combined total of 1807 children.