Specialist advocacy services for parents with learning disabilities involved in child protection proceedings

Abstract

Accessible summary Many parents with learning with learning disabilities have their children taken away. Advocates help parents with learning disabilities understand what is happening and to get their voice heard. Advocates should know how to work with people with learning disabilities and know about the child protection system. The child protection system happens when others think that parents aren’t looking after their children well enough. SummaryParents with learning disabilities frequently become involved with child protection and judicial proceedings. Parents report not understanding and being disempowered by the child protection system. This paper presents fourteen parents’ views regarding how two specialist advocacy services supported them during child protection. The parents believed that they were treated with more respect by child protection professionals when their advocate was with them. They reported being able to understand the child protection process and have their voice heard. The parents also praised their advocates for the emotional support they provided them and the way in which they were able to challenge child protection professionals’ practice because of their advocates’ experience in child protection. The advocates were supporting parents according to the guidance regarding supporting parents involved in child protection. They used strategies common to advocates working with adults with learning disabilities. The development of specific advocacy services supporting parents with learning disabilities should be supported.