Parental Advocacy in Wales: A mixed methods evaluation of its effectiveness in supporting parents

End of project summary

Main messages

Project Summary 

This study examined parental advocacy (PA) services across three diverse areas of Wales. The services included different models of PA, including peer advocacy (where having lived experience of children's services involvement as a parent is a prerequisite for the role) and professionally-trained parent advocacy (where PAs are not required to have personal experience of the child protection system, but are trained and employed as PAs). Using a realist approach, the research aimed to identify the key components of PA services that support positive working relationships between parents and professionals and promote parental involvement in decision-making.  

Key Findings & Implications 

• Both types of PA services were valued by parents and professionals. 

• Peer advocates provide empathy, shared experiences, and knowledge of social work processes as a parent, while professional advocates provide learned expertise about social work processes and policies. Combining models allows for tailored support. 

• PAs can enhance social work practice by supporting communication and collaboration between parents and professionals. In some cases, advocacy is perceived by participants to help prevent family separation.  

• Setting up and running advocacy services requires careful consideration of boundaries and roles, and includes potential challenges such as funding limitations, staff retention, and training needs.  

• Further research is needed to measure the impact of PA, including over the long-term, and to compare models. Sustainable funding and further evaluation are crucial for providing effective, evidence-based services. 

• To explore the impact of PA, future research should also consider ethical ways to conduct experimental or quasi-experimental studies.