The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• The Job of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales was created in 2001 to
safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children and
young people in Wales in other words to stand up for children and young
people
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales must also have regard to the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• The idea of having a Children’s Commissioner for Wales was first suggested in 2000
by Sir Ronald Waterhouse.
• He conducted an inquiry into the abuse of children and young people in care
homes in North Wales
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• His report showed that they had not been listened to when they complained.
• He said that they need someone who was independent of the government, the
police and local authorities to stand up for their rights
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales was set up in 2001 as an independent
children’s rights institution
• This means that they are not part of the Government or any other official
agency
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• Wales was the first nation in the UK to have a children’s commissioner Scotland, Northern Ireland and England now have commissioners as
well
• The first Children’s Commissioner for Wales was Peter Clarke. The
current Commissioner is Keith Towler
• There are Children’s Commissioners across Europe and the world – all of
which are slightly different
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales is appointed by the First Minister
for Wales
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales currently stays in post for 7 years
and cannot be re-appointed
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales has two offices. 1 in Swansea
and 1 in Colwyn Bay
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales has in the region of 25 staff who
support his work
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• The Children’s Commissioner for Wales works for every child and young
person in Wales
• That means every child or young person who is under 18 and lives in
Wales
• The Commissioner can also act on behalf of young people between 18
and 25 if they are being supported by social services (25 in certain
circumstances)
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
The Commissioner’s role is to:
•
Support children and young people to find out about children’s rights
•
Listen to children and young people to find out what’s important to them
•
Advise children, young people and those who care for them if they feel they’ve
got nowhere else to go with their problems
•
Influence Government and other organisations who say they’re going to make a
difference to children and young people’s lives, making sure they keep their
promises to children and young people
•
Speak up for children and young people nationally on important issues –
being the children’s champion in Wales
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
Legislation – What’s in the Legislation/Law?
What the Commissioner must do:
•
Make sure that children know where his offices are and how to contact his team
•
Enable children to contribute to the development of his work programmes
•
Produce an annual report
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales can only use his powers in areas
which are the responsibility of Welsh Government and where the National
Assembly for Wales has powers
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
What the Commissioner can do?
• The Commissioner can review the arrangements in place for complaints,
advocacy and whistleblowing.
Advocacy – Advocacy is about speaking up for children and young people. Advocacy is
about empowering children and young people to make sure that their rights are respected
and their views and wishes are heard at all times. Advocacy is about representing the
views, wishes and needs of children and young people to decision-makers, and helping
them to navigate the system’. (National Standards for the Provision of Children’s Advocacy
Services 2003)
Whistleblowing – one who exposes wrongdoing within an organization in the hope of
stopping it.
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• The Commissioner can give advice, information, assistance & advocate
• Can examine individual children’s cases in respect of:
-
Certain services a child receives or
The effect on a child of the exercise of certain organisation’s functions
But strict criteria must be met including:
-
Does this case raise a general issue or relevance to the rights or welfare
children
Is another organisation investigating the case? Should there be? Is that
organisation better placed to deal with this?
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• The Commissioner may review the effect on children of any function of
the Welsh Government and all other bodies (which come under the
powers of the Welsh Government) and investigate individual cases
• The Commissioner can assist a child in relation to services provided by
organisations who come under the Welsh Government.
• Assistance provided can be:
-
Advice and representation
Financial assistance (if certain criteria are met)
Such other assistance as the Commissioner thinks appropriate
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
• The Commissioner cannot assist with legal proceedings.
• He cannot review on non devolved services e.g. Police, Youth Justice,
Prisons, Benefit Agency, Judiciary and the Court Service.
• If the Commissioner cannot act under other powers, the Commissioner
has the power to make representations to the Welsh Ministers on any
matter affecting rights or welfare of children in Wales.
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
The next Children’s Commissioner for Wales will take
post in March 2015
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
Children’s Commissioner for Wales
Oystermouth House
Phoenix Way
Llansamlet
Swansea
SA7 9FS
Tel: 01792 765600
Fax: 01792 765601
Children’s Commissioner for Wales
Penrhos Manor
Oak Drive
Colwyn Bay
Conwy
LL29 7YW
Tel: 01492 523333
Fax: 01492 523336
Post@childcomwales.org.uk
Children and young people freephone number 0808 801 1000
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