Provision of Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service for Children and Young People in Care

About

Buckinghamshire County Council awarded a contract to NYAS for the provision of an Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service for children and young people in care.

The service operates in partnership with children, young people, and the Council to provide an accessible and responsive independent visitor and advocacy service for children looked after by Buckinghamshire County Council.

The organisation operates an advocacy service that meets the Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure (Children) (Amendments) Regulations 2004 and the National Standards for the Provision of Children's Advocacy Services 2002 through the use of paid staff and volunteers.

The service is available to every child and young person looked after by Buckinghamshire County Council, and to those children and young people in child protection conferences and family group conferences on a spot purchase basis.

Independent Visitors are a statutory requirement under the Children Act 1989 and are adult volunteers who befriend children and young people and ensure that young people's needs and wishes are heard.

The contract was awarded for 3 years with a possibility to extend for a further two years, depending on performance and availability of funding.

The contract value is £330,000.