Exploring the experiences of independent advocates and parents with intellectual disabilities, following their involvement in child protection proceedings

Abstract

Parents with intellectual disabilities face a disproportionately high risk of having their children removed from their care. Independent advocates can play an important role in supporting parents with intellectual disabilities through child protection proceedings. This study explored the lived experiences of both parents with intellectual disabilities and the advocates who supported them in the context of child protection proceedings. Four superordinate themes emerged from the data (power and control; justice and fairness; compassion and empathy; and resilience), underpinned by fourteen themes and three subthemes. The findings revealed positive and effective relationships between advocates and parents with intellectual disabilities and offered insights into this relationship. They also provided new information about the lived experiences of advocates themselves and the challenges they face.

Points of interest

• Many parents with intellectual disabilities have their children taken away.

• Independent advocates help parents to understand why this happens and to have their voices heard.

• The independent advocate’s job is complex, requiring many different skills. They receive no funding from the state.

• Both parents with intellectual disabilities and advocates suffer feelings of powerlessness, due to isolation, lack of support and the challenges of going through child protection proceedings.

• Advocates can help to improve the experiences of parents with intellectual disabilities who go through the child protection process.

Keywords:

• Advocacy
• independent advocate
• parents with intellectual disabilities
• child protection
• IPA

Acknowledgements

We would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Ruth Stebbens, an inspirational human being without whose help and support this research would not have been possible. Her light touched many and will shine on in our hearts and memories. We would also like to express our gratitude to Dr Guy Holmes for his superior editing skills.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.