Location: Community and Living » Community Advice » Advocacy

Advocacy

Advocacy is a way to help people to say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy schemes work in partnership with people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice.

We are entitled to the following rights

To make choices about our lives.

To receive the social and health services we need.
To be informed of our rights.
To enjoy opportunities in leisure, education, training and employment.
To be different and not to suffer discrimination.
To make a complaint when something goes wrong.
Advocacy is founded on the belief that people are of equal value regardless of ability, wealth or status and are therefore entitled to equal rights.

An Advocate Can:

Listen to you.
Help you to plan any action you may need or wish to take.
Write letters and make telephone calls with you, or for you.
Ensure your views are heard by attending meetings/reviews with you.
Obtain information for you, or put you in touch with someone who can.
Spend time with you preparing for meetings.
Investigate alternative sources of support.
Increase communication levels between yourself and others.
Find out what your rights are.
Liase with relevant agencies.

An Advocate will not:

Give you advice or choose for you
Take other people's side
Work with you all the time

An Advocacte is not the same as:

A friend or family member
A lawyer or solicitor
Other people who work with you like social workers and health care workers

Privacy & Confidentiality

Unless you want the information you share with your advocate will be kept private.
If it is considered that you or other people are at risk or the court tell us to - this rule maybe broken.

Equal Opportunitites

Organisations who provide advocacy will not discriminate against anyone.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the work of your advocate you can make a complaint. Help can be provided to support your complaint.

If you think you, or someone in your family might benefit from Advocacy Service use the Related links on the right hand side of this page to find the services available within the Borough.

If you think you, or someone in your family might benefit from any service provided by Adult Care Services and you would like us to contact you by phone or email, please complete the Adult Services Contact Us/Self Referral Online Form and someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.