e sought and heard at every stage of support, and they should contribute to decisions made about their lives, wherever possible. Advocacy, advice, and assistance must be available to assist them in any representations they may wish to make to the authority (section 26A, Children Act 1989). • Children’s social care works in partnership with whole families: children, young people and families are heard, and practitioners build strong relationships with families based on respect. They acknowledge strengths within families and recognise that families, and family networks, will often have solutions to their own challenges, and that holding a focus on the whole family is often the best way of improving outcomes for children and young people. 15 • Children are raised by their families, with their family networks or in family environments wherever possible: children’s social care recognise that the best place for most children to grow up is in their families, or with kinship carers (section 17(1)(b) Children Act 1989). Sometimes this will not be safe or possible, and in these situations, efforts are made to support relationships between children and young people with their siblings, family, and friends (section 22C, Children Act 1989). When children and young people need care to be provided by the local authority, such care is safe and prioritises consistency, stability, and lifelong loving relationships with those who are important to children and young people, so that they are supported to thrive. • Local authorities work with other agencies to effectively identify and meet the needs of children, young people, and families: Local authorities foster strong supportive relationships with other safeguarding partners and relevant agencies, including education settings, to coordina