Citation

Pithouse A, Crowley A. Child. Soc. 2007; 21(3): 201-213.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, National Children's Bureau of the United Kingdom, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1099-0860.2006.00051.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article sets out results from a Welsh Assembly government-funded study of complaints involving children and their use of advocacy services commissioned by local authorities in Wales. As this is the first study of its kind in Wales there is no baseline against which to compare the findings, hence we discuss the data in the context of a wider UK research literature and in relation to two key themes. These are (a) the number of complaints to social services involving children and the main characteristics of these complaints, particularly the involvement of an advocacy service and (b) the views of children about making a complaint and their experience of independent advocacy. The article reveals the adult-dominated nature of the children's complaints system and the limited involvement of advocacy in supporting children who make a complaint. The pressing need for a more child-focused approach that gives authentic voice to children and their rights is the key conclusion drawn from the evidence gathered in this study.