Welcome to BeHeard Advocacy! 

This portal includes information on what you can expect from us as an organisation, including how to make a referral

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We look forward to working with you!

If you have any questions or queries contact us by emailing advocacy.gloucestershire@reconstruct.co.uk

Learn all about who we are, what we do and meet the team who will be supporting you...jump to section>

Find out more about our advocacy service and access our referral forms...jump to section>

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Reconstruct has been delivering Advocacy, Independent Visiting and Participation since 1990 to vulnerable children and young people. 

Reconstruct are the providers of the BeHeard Advocacy service for Gloucestershire children and young people.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of these children and young people is at the centre of the work we undertake. 

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An advocate is someone who provides support to children and young people in care, care leavers and children and young people who are subject to a Child Protection Conference.

Empower children to speak up for themselves or for the advocate to speak up on their behalf

Make children aware of the decision making processes they are going through and to help them navigate the process

Ensure that  children receive independent information, advice and support and be able to signpost them to specialist support where necessary

Assist children in the swift resolution of complaints

Looked after Children and Young People as well as privately fostered Children and Young People.

Children and Young People up to the age of 25 moving on from care to adult life and who are entitled to a service under the Children Leaving Care Act 2000.

Children and Young People aged 6 and over who are subject to a Child Protection Conference.

Children and Young People in receipt of a Social Care service making a complaint about that Service.

Children and Young People who are aged 6 to 25 years who are receiving support from Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) Disabled Children & Young People services.

The referrer completes the referral form on the link below, which is then sent automatically to the coordinator for Gloucestershire.

The downloadable referral form is only to be used if referring a sibling group. Please download and email to advocacy.gloucestershire@reconstruct.co.uk

Within 24 hours the referral will be acknowledged by the Reconstruct team and within 48 hours will be assigned to an advocate. You will be contacted to discuss the following upon receipt of referral:

• To let you know the status of the referral and who the Advocate allocated will be. If the referral is missing any information, they will also ask for further clarification, including any risks that the advocate should be aware of before meeting the child/young person.

• Advocate will arrange with parent/carer to speak with the young person. 

• If parents or young person do not want to engage then advocate would complete a non-starter form and advise the social worker.

• If the young person is aged 16 plus the Advocate will ask the referrer if it is acceptable for them to contact the young person directly.

• An advocate will meet with the young person face to face or virtually (child led)

Please ensure invitations to meetings are sent well in advance to allow for an advocate to be allocated in good time and to enable the views and wishes of the child/young person to be collated. Should an advocate not be available due to delays in sending the referral, Reconstruct will not be held responsible for not unattendance. However, we will endeavour to support the child / young person by collecting their views retrospectively. 

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We really want to get the word out that we are providing the Advocacy Service to young people in Gloucestershire and encourage you and your teams to send these out to the young people, family and carers you work with:

If you are aware of anyone who may be interested in learning more about becoming an advocate in the Gloucestershire area, please do ask them to get in touch with us at advocacy.gloucestershire@reconstruct.co.uk 

We would love to hear from them!

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