Advocates for young people are not part of the local authority system. Their job is to speak on behalf of a child in care or leaving care and make sure they get the help they are entitled to. Young people can ask for an advocate to help make sure they are listened to about important decisions about their lives and every young person in care has the automatic right to an advocate when they are making a complaint.
Although children have the right to be heard by their local authority, it can be complicated for a child or teenager to understand their rights and to stand up to the people who are caring for them. As Fabrice, 17, told us: 'I think when it's just a young person by themselves, social workers fob us off with big words. When there's an advocate who knows what they are talking about and is as experienced as they are, they can't give them no chat. That empowers the young person.'
The main roles of an advocate are to: