Councils withholding advocacy from parents with learning disabilities in child protection process
Advocacy organisations report councils delaying or withdrawing referrals for services to support parents with learning disabilities involved in pre-court processes, shifting the financial burden to other organisations and ‘denying rights’
Image: Michail Petrov
Some local authorities are withholding or delaying advocacy support for parents with learning disabilities involved in child protection cases, contrary to good practice guidance and potentially breaching their human rights, a leading professional network has warned.
Members of the Working Together with Parents Network (WTPN), which supports professionals working with parents with learning disabilities and their children, said some local authorities had started withdrawing or delaying referrals for their services in providing advocates for parents.