7. How is the Welsh Government improving access to advocacy services? OQ58653

A range of services continue to be developed across Wales. In the current Senedd term, we will, for example, increase access to mental health advocacy to meet new liberty protection standards and also create a new advocacy service for parents whose children are at risk of removal into public care.

Thank you, Trefnydd, for your response. I do welcome what the Welsh Government has been doing around advocacy services, especially for children and young people around the active offer. However, the recent report by the Children's Commissioner for Wales highlighted that, despite some improvement, health-related advocacy services in particular are still not available for all young people who need it. For example, the report states that, unfortunately, there has been very little progress from the Welsh Government on supporting health boards to improve the advocacy offer. With work that started in 2020 to engage with health boards and advocacy providers stalling due to the pandemic, and then, as noted in the report, not being resumed since, Minister, does the Government have any plans to ask health boards to assess how they are currently implementing the active offer, and whether services are accessible and include face-to-face services? And how do you respond to the commissioner's call for the option of advocacy services to be extended to all young people who need it when assessing health services, and for this service to be well advertised and promoted?

Obviously, advocacy can take many forms. It can be informal, it can be formal. I think you're referring to more formal approaches. Every type of advocacy has its own benefits in the way it supports individuals. We do have advocacy services for health. You'll be aware of the new citizen voice body for health and social care, which is replacing our community health councils. Obviously, the new CVB will reflect the views and interests of the people of Wales. In relation specifically to children, obviously we have a national approach to statutory advocacy for children and, since 2017, as part of that, we have developed an active offer of advocacy for children and young people who are absolutely entitled to have that active offer from a statutory, independent, professional advocate going forward.