Who are we? 

Hackney’s children’s rights service provides independent advocacy for children and young people who are working with Hackney services. We provide an independent service that supports you to have your voice heard, we can represent your wishes and feelings and provide information to you about your rights and entitlements.

What are Children’s Rights?

Every child and young person has rights, it does not matter who you are. These include the right to an education and to be protected from harm. Hackney has promised to protect, respect and fulfil these rights. The Children’s Rights service is here up hold your rights, listen to you and support you.

What is an Independent Children’s Rights Officer?

An Independent Children’s Rights Officer (CRO) works to ensure that Hackney children and young people who are or have been Looked After or are receiving services are have their voice heard on issues that are important to them.

• Independent means we are not linked to your social worker, your care plan and are not involved in any of the decision making that might have already happened
• Advocates defend and safeguard your rights.
• Support you to have a voice and represent your wishes and feelings in a way that works for you
• If you need information and advice and want to know your rights
• We want to work with you to empower you to be able to be better involved in planning and decision making

An advocate is someone who provides advocacy support when you need it. An advocate might help you access information you need or go with you to meetings or interviews, in a supportive role. You may want your advocate to write letters on your behalf, or speak for you in situations where you don’t feel able to speak for yourself.

Our advocates will spend time with you to get to know your views and wishes.

Children’s Rights Officers

Our Children’s Rights Service gives you a safe space to be and feel listened to with an independent person. Independent means we are here to make sure Hackney are providing you with the services you require.

We want to work well with those important to you to improve the services and to get for better outcomes for you. People we may work with as well as you include:

• your family
• social workers
• parents
• police
• teachers
• foster carers 

Your Children’s Rights Officer is available to speak with you on the phone or meet you at a place of your choice. They will talk through with you any concerns that you might have and inform you of your rights and entitlements in confidence.

Confidentiality means that you can talk to that person about anything you want and in most cases it will be just be between you and them.

The only times information will be shared is if it is felt that:

• you could be in danger
• if you’ve said something about someone else being hurt
• or if a crime has been committed.

Together with your worker you will discuss ways in which this information will be shared and with who, to work towards making the situation safer, nothing will be done without your knowledge.

How do I contact my Independent Children’s Rights Officer?

If you would like to have a chat to one of us to find out more information you contact us by: 

• Email childrensrights@hackney.gov.uk
• Phone 0208 356 2444

Someone will get back to you within 72 hours