Leeds Advocacy » What we do » Parents with learning disabilities

Parents with learning disabilities

This is a project that supports parents with learning disabilities who have had their children removed from their care and placed into foster care.   This project also supports parents whose children are still living with them in their home but are on the At Risk Register.  This means that Social Services have laid down guidelines for parents to follow and to put into practice to give parents a chance to keep their children at home.

Parents are supported by Leeds Advocacy to help them understand the process of assessments, attending solicitors and the Court process.   The language used is complicated and due to the stress placed upon parents, it is hard for them to take on the information or at times retain what has been said.  An advocate attends Court to give the parents support emotionally and guide them through the process.  An advocate also takes time to go through what has just been said in Court at the end of the session thus making sure parents fully understand what is happening.  This is helpful as due to time restraints solicitors do not always have the time to explain in great detail what has happened and can often leave the parents wondering what has just happened.