The Practitioner as an Advocate for Children, Young People and Families
Learning objectives
This resource should help you to explore your role as an advocate for the rights of children, young people and families, by exploring types of advocacy and the importance of developing a culture of advocacy.
The Practitioner as an Advocate for Children, Young People and Families
Advocacy is the process of supporting and enabling vulnerable people. In this Expert Opinion piece, Alison Prowle and Angela Hodgkins explore the role of the practitioner as an advocate for children, young people and families.
This has been adapted from Making a Difference with Children, Young People and Families: Re-imagining the Role of the Practitioner. You can find out more about the book by following this link.
Reflective Questions
1. In the example above of the 11-year-old girl using social media, consider how you might handle the situation. What are the issues? What is the priority?
2. Reflect on skills necessary to be an advocate for others.
3. Consider ways that your organisation gathers the voices of children, young people and families. Are they true partners? What happens to the information when it is gathered? How is it used? How could the system be improved?