Under the Aegis: The Value of Consistency in Child Advocacy
TIGALA Guardian ad Litem Nikki McCarthy reflects on how consistent, long-term relationships with young people in care help build trust, clarity, and stronger outcomes for children.
“There’s been lots of times, really, over all the years that I have made a difference,” Nikki begins. For her, that difference often stems from something that may seem simple on the surface, but which holds real weight for young people in care: the consistency of the relationship between a child and their Guardian ad Litem.
The Power of Showing Up, Again and Again
“What I’ve really seen, actually, is the relationship for young people – it’s very valuable,” she explains.
The ability of a Guardian ad Litem to remain consistent for a young person is really, really important – young people value that.
It’s not just about being there – it’s about staying. Nikki shares how she has supported some children from as young as seven or eight years old, all the way through until they left care at 18. “That consistent person has been very important,” she says. “You get to know them very well, and as a result, you can argue and advocate points for them.”
Holding the Thread Through a Complex Journey
One young person’s story stands out: a child Nikki supported for eight years, from age eight through the entirety of her care journey. During that time, the child experienced a range of significant changes – different placements, different social workers, and fluctuating family relationships.
“Throughout that time, placements have changed, social workers have changed, her relationship with her family changes and kind of works and doesn’t work… So I suppose I became the person who has been most consistent and now holds her care journey with the most clarity.”
That continuity of presence meant Nikki was often the one the young person would turn to for help making sense of her own story – or explaining it to others.
“There’s so much trauma that she isn't even clear herself in what’s happened in her life at times, and will come to me to try to understand that and to help her formulate her thoughts and views when she's trying to have her point understood” by different people.
Whether transitioning to a new placement or preparing for a key meeting, Nikki’s clarity helped both the young person and the professionals involved understand what she needed and where she was coming from.
A Bridge to Healing and Therapeutic Support
Crucially, Nikki’s role extended beyond advocacy – her constant presence has transformed Nikki into a kind of 'transitional attachment figure' which has helped the young person move forward with therapeutic work that might otherwise have felt overwhelming.
“She can use the stable, solid relationship that she has with me," Nikki explains, "and use that to transition into other relationships, particularly therapeutic relationships which has been really, very important.”
Why It Matters
Consistency is often undervalued – yet for children in care, it can be the foundation for trust, healing, and progress to be made amidst the backdrop of so much change. As Nikki reflects:
“In a system where stability and consistency of relationship unfortunately just is not always there for young people in care,” Nikki says, “the power of that is really important.”
It’s a reminder that the Guardian ad Litem role is not just professional. It’s one that is deeply human at its core.
At TIGALA, we know that strong advocacy isn’t just about what you say in court – it’s about the trust you build over time, the understanding you carry with you, and the care you bring to each recommendation.
Nikki’s story shows how long-term relationships can give Guardians the clarity and confidence to advocate for exactly what a child needs – and the credibility to help make it happen. If you’d like to hear more stories like Nikki’s, you might also enjoy our recent blogs with Davina Reidy on Will and Preference or Francis O'Callaghan on being a part of the TIGALA team.
