Independent advocacy services45A⁠⁠

1

Every authority must make arrangements for the provision of assistance to—

a

persons who make or intend to make representations under Article 35D; and

b

children who make or intend to make representations under Article 45.

2

The assistance provided under the arrangements must include assistance by way of representation.

3

The arrangements—

a

must secure that a person may not provide assistance if that person is a person who is prevented from doing so by regulations made by the Department; and

b

must comply with any other provision made by the regulations in relation to the arrangements.

4

The Department may make regulations requiring authorities to monitor the steps that they have taken with a view to ensuring that they comply with regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (3).

5

Every authority must give such publicity to their arrangements for the provision of assistance under this Article as it considers appropriate.