Parent and lay advocacy: what support looks like when Children's Services get involved

Parent advocacy is independent support for parents who are involved with Children's Services. Families in this position are typically asked to attend meetings such as Child in Need or Child Protection conferences, to respond to reports and assessments produced by social workers, and in some cases to go through the Public Law Outline process before any application is made to court.

Uphold Advocacy's Independent Parent Advocacy page has recently been updated to reflect the scope of this work. This month's blog sets out what parent advocacy involves, how lay advocacy fits alongside it, and when a parent might want to ask for this kind of support.

What is parent advocacy?

An advocate is not part of Children's Services and does not make decisions about children or families. Their role is to help the parent understand the process and take an active part in it.

In practice, this can mean helping a parent to:

• understand Children's Services procedures and what is expected of them
• prepare for significant meetings, including Child in Need and Child Protection conferences
• make sense of reports, assessments and action plans written about their family
• work out what they want to say and how to say it clearly
• take part in professional meetings and discussions with confidence
• understand outcomes and what happens next
• communicate with professionals when things have become difficult
• have someone alongside them during meetings, simply as a steady, familiar presence

None of this replaces legal advice. Where a parent already has a solicitor, advocacy support during family proceedings sits alongside that legal representation rather than in place of it.

What is lay advocacy, and how does it fit in?

Lay advocacy is support provided by someone who is not legally qualified but who helps a person express their wishes, understand their options and be properly heard, often in situations where communication is difficult for one reason or another. Uphold Advocacy has written before about lay advocacy in a broader sense, covering healthcare, social care and legal settings. This piece looks specifically at how it applies to parents.

Guidance from the Family Justice Council on parents who lack capacity to conduct proceedings states that a lay advocate with relevant experience should be available to support a parent through child protection conferences, Family Group Conferences and meetings with legal representatives, and that continuity of the same advocate and specialist knowledge of child protection processes are both important. That guidance applies specifically to parents with learning disabilities or mental health needs.

Where lay advocacy has been commissioned in connection with child protection or family court proceedings, the advocate's attendance at court is subject to any requirements or directions the court has made. It is provided where appropriate to the circumstances of the case and the advocate's agreed role, and it is not a substitute for legal representation or a source of legal advice. It complements the work already being done by a parent's solicitor.

When might a parent need this kind of support?

There is no single point at which parent or lay advocacy becomes relevant, but some common moments include:

• being invited to a Child in Need or Child Protection conference for the first time
• taking part in a Family Group Conference
• going through the Public Law Outline process before any court application is made
• attending family court hearings where the court has agreed that a lay advocate can be present
• struggling to follow reports or plans written in professional or legal language
• needing additional communication support because of a learning disability or a mental health difficulty

Not every parent needs the same level of support. Some want an advocate mainly to help them prepare beforehand and understand paperwork. Others find it more useful to have someone present in the room during meetings. The right level of involvement depends on the individual and the case.

How a referral works

Referrals for parent and lay advocacy are made by a local authority, solicitor or the court, since Uphold Advocacy needs to be commissioned by one of these before support can begin. Parents are welcome to contact Uphold Advocacy directly to ask questions and find out more, and that conversation is often the first step towards a referral being put in place.

If you are a professional working with a family who could benefit from this kind of independent support, or a parent who wants to understand your options, the quickest way to start the conversation is to contact Uphold Advocacy or call 01432 345748.

Frequently asked questions

Is parent advocacy the same as having a solicitor? No. A solicitor gives legal advice and represents a parent's legal position. An advocate does not give legal advice or make decisions on a parent's behalf. Instead, they help a parent understand what is happening, prepare for meetings, and communicate their views. The two roles work alongside each other, not in competition.

Can a parent refer themselves for advocacy support? Parents can contact Uphold Advocacy directly to ask questions and find out more. Support itself has to be commissioned by a local authority, solicitor or the court, so a parent's own call is usually the start of that conversation rather than a referral in itself.

Does a lay advocate need permission to attend family court proceedings? This depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Where lay advocacy has been commissioned in connection with child protection or family court proceedings, the advocate's attendance at court is subject to any requirements or directions of the court, and to the advocate's agreed role.



Is this support only available once care proceedings have started? No. Support can be helpful earlier too, including during the Public Law Outline process, Child in Need and Child Protection meetings, and Family Group Conferences, as well as during court proceedings themselves.

Is the advocate independent of Children's Services? Yes. Advocates are independent and are not part of Children's Services. Their role is to support the parent, not to represent the local authority's position.