Finding an advocate

The SEN Evidence Vault advocate directory lists Accredited Advocates and Organisations who are available to support families. You can search and browse the directory without an account, but to send a support request you will need to be logged in.

Searching the directory

From the main navigation, select Find an Advocate. You can filter by:

• Location: county or region. Advocates can work remotely so do not rule out advocates outside your immediate area, but local knowledge can be valuable.
• Specialism: some advocates specialise in specific areas: autism, ADHD, physical or medical needs, early years, post-16, tribunal representation.
• Availability: filter for advocates who are currently accepting new families.
• Type: individual advocates or organisations.

Reading a profile

Each advocate profile includes:

• A summary of their background and experience
• The areas they work in
• Whether they are currently available
• Their approach to working with families
• Reviews from families they have supported (where provided)

Look for:

• Relevant experience: have they supported cases similar to yours?
• Clear communication style: their profile writing reflects how they will communicate with you
• Realistic about what they can offer: good advocates are honest about their limits

Making initial contact

If an advocate looks like a good match, select Send support request from their profile. This sends them a message through the platform with:

• Your child's name and age
• A brief description of your situation
• What kind of support you are looking for
• Whether you have existing evidence in your Vault

The advocate will respond through the platform. Initial contact does not commit either party to a working relationship.

If no local advocate is available

The directory is growing. If no advocate in your area is currently available, you can:

• Set an availability alert for advocates in your area
• Contact an Accredited Organisation, they often have advocates who work nationally
• Search the directory without a location filter for remote-only advocates