Parent Advocates: supporting families through child protection

Families in Wirral navigating the Child Protection process now have access to a new kind of support. Parent Advocates offer free, independent support to families whose children are under a Child Protection Plan. With training and first-hand experience, they provide guidance, reassurance and someone to stand alongside families when it matters most.

Understanding, support and experience

Parent Advocates are individuals who have personal experience of the Child Protection process, either with their own children or while supporting their family members. They now use that experience to help other families feel informed, supported and understood. Parent Advocates offer both practical guidance and emotional support, helping families understand what’s happening and what to expect.

What Parent Advocates do

Every family’s experience is different, so the support offered is shaped around each family’s individual needs. The advocates are matched to families based on the level and type of support required. They can:

• Help explain the Child Protection process
• Offer support at Child Protection Conferences and other meetings
• Speak with professionals on behalf of families if needed
• Ensure families’ wishes and feelings are heard
• Provide encouragement and help families identify their strengths

Some families may want regular support throughout the process, while others may simply want someone to talk things through with. The service is flexible and completely led by the family.

Trained to support

While lived experience is at the heart of this service, Parent Advocates also receive rigorous training. They learn about the Child Protection process, legal frameworks, and how to work in a trauma-informed way. This ensures they can provide both accurate information and empathetic support at what can be an emotionally challenging time.

About the Child Protection Plan

A Child Protection Plan is put in place when a child may be at risk of significant harm. The plan sets out the concerns, the steps needed to reduce risks, and the support available to the family. It involves professionals from different services, with the aim of keeping children safe and supporting families to make lasting change.

Parent Advocates help families feel included in this process. They can make it easier to understand what’s happening, help prepare for meetings and ensure the family’s perspective is always part of the conversation.

Part of a new approach in Wirral

This service has been developed as part of the Families First for Children Pathfinder, a national programme that aims to support families earlier and more effectively at the right time.
In Wirral, the Parent Advocacy service is delivered in partnership by Wirral Council, Family Toolbox, and local charity Koala North West.

Meet the Parent Advocates

These short clips introduce the team behind the service, sharing their personal stories, why they became advocates, and how they’re supporting families across Wirral.
 

Get support

If your child is in the Child Protection process and you would like an advocate by your side, you can call the team at 0151 608 8288 or email them at pathfinder@koalanw.co.uk. You can also speak to a child’s social worker to find out more.