Children and Young People's Rights Service

The Adoption and Children Act 2002, places a duty on local authorities to make arrangements for the provision of advocacy services for children and young people in care and care leavers who want to make a complaint under the Children Act procedures. In Luton, the services are now provided by an independent company called Reconstruct Children’s Services.

Reconstruct is a nonpartisan, results-oriented organisation dedicated to advocating for looked after children and young people within Luton Social Services. Our service is independent, free and confidential and offered to all young people in care between the ages of 10 and 18 and care leavers up to the age of 25.

As advocates, our role is to ensure that young people have accurate, appropriate and sufficient information so that they can make informed choices about thier care. This includes investigating concerns on thier behalf, advising young people on their rights and the responsibilities of the social services department towards them as a young person in care or as a care leaver, as well as discussing alternative options available to them.

We can help if you are:

• Having problems getting help and support services
• Wanting to make a complaint
• Unhappy about the service you are getting
• Worried about attending meetings and speaking in them
• Feel other professionals do not listen to you

The procedure for making a referral to The Children’s Advocacy Service can be obtained by contacting the Social Services Child Protection Officer, your social worker or link worker or by contacting us directly via phone, text, email or visiting our offices. Alternatively please download an application and post to us.