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Email: nadia.rees@nyas.net
Mobile number: 07768 583 807

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Children's Services Internal IV Referral Flowchart

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Children's Services Internal IV Referral Flowchart

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In Caerphilly anyone under 25 can have an Advocate they don't have to have a Social Worker. Contact the helpline on 08088081001.

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Independent Visitor Services information for children and young people

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Independent Visitor Services information for children and young people

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As a young person who is in care, you are entitled to an Independent Visitor (IV) An IV is a volunteer who wants to get to know you and spend time with you so they can build a long lasting friendship. They are not paid - they volunteer because they want to understand your interests and hobbies through fun activities. They are there to support, listen and advise you, but mostly have fun with you! If you feel you would like an Independent Visitor please speak to your Social Worker or ask an adult to contact NYAS and we will arrange for you to speak to the Caerphilly Co-ordinator, who will be happy to come and see you to tell you all abouth the service.

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If you want help to have your voice heard call NYAS on 08088081001

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If you think an Advocate can help you please call us on 08088081001

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Anyone can refer a child or young person to the service using the online Issue Based Advocacy Referral form:

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Anyone can refer a child or young person to the service using the online Issue Based Advocacy Referral form:

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NYAS Portal LINK

You can call our Helpline on 0808 808 1001 or email Help@nyas.net

Alternatively, Caerphilly JAFF referrals can be made and emailed to the Information, Advice and Assistance (IAA) Team at:-  contactandreferral@caerphilly.gov.uk

Please contact the JAFF Coordinator prior to completing a JAFF to ensure multiple copies of the document aren’t created.  The JAFF is designed to follow a family’s journey therefore there should only be one ‘rolling’ document.

Please see the JAFF Padlet for further advice/guidance and to access the current JAFF referral form:-

JAFF PADLET Guidance Homepage

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For more information take a look at our website

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For more information take a look at our website

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Advocacy for Young People | What is Advocacy? | NYAS

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For example, we can help you when something makes you unhappy. Maybe you've been told you have to move or you don't understand why you can't see your family or friends. A NYAS advocate can help you to share your feelings, and if change isn't possible, they will explain why that decision has happened.

If our advocate can't help you with a specific issue that you have, they can help you find out if there is someone who can. You can also ask to stop your advocacy support at any time.

No problem is too big or too small for a NYAS advocate to help you with.

Your NYAS advocate will always be on your side. They will listen to what you want and always treat you with fairness and respect. When you start meeting with your advocate, they will make an advocacy plan with you.

Your advocacy plan will:

Set out what help you need (what you want to stop, start or change)

Inform you of the steps to help you achieve your goals

Review how things are going and keep you updated

Discuss and agree any other steps that need to be taken to achieve your goals

Make sure you know how to contact your advocate

Advocates will only do or say the things that you want them to, unless you or another child or young person is unsafe. You can learn more about how our advocates handle your privacy below, or read our young person privacy policy for more information.

We love hearing about your NYAS advocacy experience. If you have any feedback about your advocacy journey, or you want to tell us why you were not happy with your advocate, let us know, and we can continue to improve.

In England, we work to the NationalStandards ​ for the Provision of Children's Advocacy Services.

In Wales, we work to the Independent Professional Advocacy National Standards and Outcomes Framework for Children and Young People in Wales from Welsh Government:

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Advocacy for Young People | What is Advocacy? | NYAS

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For example, we can help you when something makes you unhappy. Maybe you've been told you have to move or you don't understand why you can't see your family or friends. A NYAS advocate can help you to share your feelings, and if change isn't possible, they will explain why that decision has happened.

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The role of the advocate includes supporting, empowering and representing the child or young person by promoting views, wishes and feelings.

It enables children and young people to have a voice; be involved in decision making; make informed choices; access services; support with dispute resolution; read, understand and write letters and make phone calls on behalf of the child or young person; and for them to feel listened to and respected.

We aim to empower the CYP and increase their confidence so that they have the skills to deal with issues in the future.

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An advocate won’t make decisions for you, offer legal advice, give their personal opinion or tell you what to do. NYAS advocates are independent and do not work for your carers or children’s services - they are there only for you.

An advocate can:

Explain what choices and legal rights you are entitled to

Make sure your views, wishes and feelings are listened to and respected

Help you to have a say in the decisions being made about your life

Explain your situation and why certain decisions have been made

Support you to speak up for yourself

Attend meetings and reviews with you or attend on your behalf

Speak up for you and challenge any decisions you want stopped, started or changed

Support you to make a formal complaint

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If you would like more information on the project, you can contact the NYAS helpline on:

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If you would like more information on the project, you can contact the NYAS helpline on:

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0808 808 1001 / help@nyas.net
Or Nadia Rees on: 07768 583807

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nyas - the national youth advocacy service - Search Results | Facebook

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NYAS advocates work in partnership with many other projects/services for the benefit of children, young people and their families.  We will only do this where the child or young person gives us consent.

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NYAS advocates work in partnership with many other projects/services for the benefit of children, young people and their families.  We will only do this where the child or young person gives us consent.

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NYAS advocates work on behalf of children and young people with many other services: Supporting Family Change; Caerphilly Youth Service;    Llamau; Early Years & Flying Start; Parent Advocacy Service; Platfform Wellbeing Service; P-CAMHS.  We are also members of the Caerphilly SPACE Wellbeing Panel and ensure that children and young people access appropriate services to ensure their emotional wellbeing and mental health needs are met.

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We work with children and young people to ensure that their voices are heard in matters that affect them by working with them on a one to one basis and addressing any issues presented and bringing them to a resolution.

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Most visits are undertaken face to face with young people at school or at community venues.  However, following the coronavirus outbreak we are continuing to offer a virtual option to children and young people by using alternative methods of communication such as Skype, Facetime, and telephone to ensure that they have a choice.

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The advocate provides one to one support and listens to the child or young persons concerns, explores the issues presented, provides information and ensures they understand.

The service seeks to works within a rights based approach enabling children and young people to exercise choice and control and ensure safeguarding.

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NYAS Advocacy Service for Children and Young People (Families First) offer an independent and impartial advocacy service to anyone aged under 25 years living within the Caerphilly Borough.

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NYAS Advocacy Service for Children and Young People (Families First) offer an independent and impartial advocacy service to anyone aged under 25 years living within the Caerphilly Borough.

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Advocates work on a one to one basis, are child led and help to resolve any issues presented and bring them to a resolution.

Advocates work to ensure that children and young people's voices are heard and help to get something STOPPED, STARTED or CHANGED.

Consent from the Child/Young Person is required, we do not need parental consent. The service is confidential and is not time limited.

To find out more visit Advocacy | What is Advocacy? | Child and Family Advocacy Services | NYAS

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Issues that advocates have supported on include:

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Issues that advocates have supported on include:

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Education issues

Exclusion and poor attendance

Transfer to alternative education provision

Being bullied

Appeals and education meetings

Behaviour issues

Family conflict

Contact and residence including reports for Court

Health and mental health

Gender identity/transgender/LGBTQ+

Complaints

Emotional wellbeing

Adoption

Young parents with children undergoing child protection process

Views, wishes and feelings reports for Supporting Family Change and other professionals/services working with families

Signposting/referring to other services

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Independent Visitor Services information for Social Workers

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Independent Visitor Services information for Social Workers

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The role of the independent visitor was introduced as a statutory service, which all children in care are legally entitled to, in the Children Act 1989.

Our Independent visitors are trained adult volunteers who provide children and young people in care with friendship and support. They complement the vital role of social workers and carers in contributing to and promoting the young person’s developmental, social, emotional, religious and cultural needs – they listen to how a young person is feeling.

If you wish to make a referral or need further information please call our NYAS helpline on 08088081001, Caerphilly Independent Visitor Co-Ordinator Alyson Sefton 07785950424, or visit our website: www.nyas.net

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Volunteer With NYAS

Volunteering for NYAS is incredibly rewarding. Our volunteers are integral to the NYAS mission, so if you're looking to make a difference in the lives of care experienced children and young people, explore our voluntary positions.

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The National Youth Advocacy Service | NYAS

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NYAS (The National Youth Advocacy Service) provides a range of services to support, safeguard and empower children, young people and adults in vulnerable situations.

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NYAS Complaints and Compliments Policy and Procedure

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You can contact our national helpline by freephone telephone, online chat, email or WhatsApp.

If English is not your first language, NYAS can provide an interpreter to join your call.

Our Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am–8pm. If you contact us outside of these times, we will be in touch once the helpline opens again.

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This leaflet is for young people who's first language is not English. At NYAS we communicate in a way that the young people prefer and we use interpreters if needed to make sure that any young persons right to advocacy is fully inclusive .

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Email: charlotte.robins@nyas.net
Mobile: 07840 040786

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Your NYAS advocate will always be on your side.  They will listen to what you want and always treat you with fairness and respect.

When you start meeting with your advocate, they will make an advocacy plan with you.

Your advocacy plan will:

Set out what help you need (what you want to stop, start or change)

Inform you of the steps to help you achieve your goals.

Review how things are going and keep you updated.

Discuss and agree any other steps that need to be taken to achieve your goals.

Make sure you know how to contact your advocate.

Advocates will only do or say the things that you want them to, unless you or another child or young person is unsafe.

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Email: Jayne.newman@nyas.net

Mobile: 07484020458

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This explains Advocacy using Social Stories

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Although the video mentions Social Workers, in Caerphilly any young person can have an advocate if they are under 25. Contact the helpline on 08088081001.

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Your advocate will be led by you and help you with whatever issues you’re worried about. For example, we can help you when something makes you unhappy. Maybe you’ve been told you have to move or you don’t understand why you can’t see your family or friends.

A NYAS advocate can help you to share your feelings, and if change isn't possible, they will explain why that decision has happened.

If our advocate can’t help you with a specific issue that you have, they can help you find out if there is someone who can. You can also ask to stop your advocacy support at any time.

No problem is too big or too small for a NYAS advocate to help you with.