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Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland

Shane Powell, Emilia Preter, Clive Diaz Orcid Logo, Vicky Hansly Orcid Logo

Child & Family Social Work

Swansea University Author: Clive Diaz Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/cfs.70207

Abstract

Parental advocacy represents a crucial response to the marginalization of parents within child protection systems, aiming to empower them by amplifying their voices, ensuring their participation and supporting them through complex legal and bureaucratic processes. This article evaluates the Parental...

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Published in: Child & Family Social Work
ISSN: 1356-7500 1365-2206
Published: Wiley 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71942
first_indexed 2026-05-18T16:01:45Z
last_indexed 2026-06-17T04:33:59Z
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spelling 2026-06-16T13:29:22.9838938 v2 71942 2026-05-18 Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland 5180251a01f9ecc3a101fd8fbb075158 0000-0001-5681-9056 Clive Diaz Clive Diaz true false 2026-05-18 HSOC Parental advocacy represents a crucial response to the marginalization of parents within child protection systems, aiming to empower them by amplifying their voices, ensuring their participation and supporting them through complex legal and bureaucratic processes. This article evaluates the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS), a pilot service launched in Ireland to provide independent advocacy for parents involved in child protection cases. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews and surveys with parents and professionals, the study explores how advocacy services contribute to meaningful parental participation in decision-making, impact relationships between parents and professionals and address the emotional and informational needs of parents. The findings highlight the role of advocacy in breaking down complex information, enhancing parents' knowledge of their rights and fostering improved communication with child protection professionals. Despite challenges, the PAIS has proven to be an invaluable tool for empowering parents, reducing emotional distress and facilitating more collaborative relationships with social workers. This article contributes to the growing body of literature on parental advocacy in child protection, offering insights into its potential to transform systems of support for families. Journal Article Child & Family Social Work 0 Wiley 1356-7500 1365-2206 child protection; empowerment; Ireland; parental advocacy; parent–professional relationships 7 5 2026 2026-05-07 10.1111/cfs.70207 COLLEGE NANME Health and Social Care School COLLEGE CODE HSOC Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee Tusla Child and Family Agency 2026-06-16T13:29:22.9838938 2026-05-18T16:58:26.4940473 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Social Work Shane Powell 1 Emilia Preter 2 Clive Diaz 0000-0001-5681-9056 3 Vicky Hansly 0009-0003-0221-5996 4 71942__36788__d553e0465a7e4a96a53b5335682dbc22.pdf 71942.VoR.pdf 2026-05-18T17:02:37.1245266 Output 235020 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
spellingShingle Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
Clive Diaz
title_short Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
title_full Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
title_fullStr Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
title_full_unstemmed Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
title_sort Empowering Parents in Child Protection: An Evaluation of the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS) in Ireland
author_id_str_mv 5180251a01f9ecc3a101fd8fbb075158
author_id_fullname_str_mv 5180251a01f9ecc3a101fd8fbb075158_***_Clive Diaz
author Clive Diaz
author2 Shane Powell
Emilia Preter
Clive Diaz
Vicky Hansly
format Journal article
container_title Child & Family Social Work
container_volume 0
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1356-7500
1365-2206
doi_str_mv 10.1111/cfs.70207
publisher Wiley
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Social Work{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Social Work
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Parental advocacy represents a crucial response to the marginalization of parents within child protection systems, aiming to empower them by amplifying their voices, ensuring their participation and supporting them through complex legal and bureaucratic processes. This article evaluates the Parental Advocacy and Information Service (PAIS), a pilot service launched in Ireland to provide independent advocacy for parents involved in child protection cases. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews and surveys with parents and professionals, the study explores how advocacy services contribute to meaningful parental participation in decision-making, impact relationships between parents and professionals and address the emotional and informational needs of parents. The findings highlight the role of advocacy in breaking down complex information, enhancing parents' knowledge of their rights and fostering improved communication with child protection professionals. Despite challenges, the PAIS has proven to be an invaluable tool for empowering parents, reducing emotional distress and facilitating more collaborative relationships with social workers. This article contributes to the growing body of literature on parental advocacy in child protection, offering insights into its potential to transform systems of support for families.
published_date 2026-05-07T06:25:32Z
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score 11.110583

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