NYAS Children and Young People Advocacy by Families First Central Support Team

familiesfirst1 — 2023-05-23 09:37:54 UTC

familiesfirst1 — 2023-05-23 09:38:31 UTC

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

familiesfirst1 — 2023-05-23 09:39:45 UTC

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

Nadia Rees - Project Coordinator

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 09:11:52 UTC

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

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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

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 11:10:19 UTC

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

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 11:16:37 UTC

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 11:18:07 UTC

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 11:18:23 UTC

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 11:18:38 UTC

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.

Issues that advocates have supported on include:

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 11:18:55 UTC

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

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 12:20:40 UTC

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-24 12:31:18 UTC

For more information take a look at our website

nadiarees — 2023-05-25 13:37:30 UTC

Advocacy for Young People | What is Advocacy? | NYAS

nadiarees — 2023-05-25 13:43:54 UTC

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

What Can My Advocate Help Me With?

nadiarees — 2023-05-25 13:45:45 UTC

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.

nadiarees — 2023-05-25 13:47:05 UTC

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.

Twitter

familiesfirst1 — 2023-06-20 09:21:29 UTC

Facebook

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

Complaints Procedure

nadiarees — 2023-06-21 09:05:29 UTC

What Can I Expect From My Advocate?

familiesfirst1 — 2023-07-26 15:00:23 UTC

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.

Charlotte Robins - Advocate

familiesfirst1 — 2023-07-26 15:06:10 UTC

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

Jayne Newman - Advocate

familiesfirst1 — 2023-07-26 15:07:20 UTC

Email: Jayne.newman@nyas.net

Mobile: 07484020458

NYAS Leaflet

kevincrewe — 2024-02-08 15:59:19 UTC

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

NYAS Leaflet

kevincrewe — 2024-02-08 16:06:34 UTC

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

Independent Visitor Services information for Social Workers

alysonsefton — 2024-02-13 09:10:10 UTC

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

Independent Visitor Services information for children and young people

alysonsefton — 2024-02-13 09:20:51 UTC

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.

Care Leavers Leaflet

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NYAS Children's Services Guide

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NYAS Advocate - Under 11

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Advocacy Video

kevincrewe — 2024-02-29 17:01:49 UTC

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.

Advocacy Video

kevincrewe — 2024-02-29 17:08:46 UTC

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

kevincrewe — 2024-03-15 16:24:17 UTC

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 .

Children's Services Internal IV Referral Flowchart

familiesfirst1 — 2024-04-26 11:38:41 UTC

What is Advocacy

kevincrewe — 2024-04-26 12:52:11 UTC

This explains Advocacy using Social Stories

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