SERVICE DETAILS
COVID-19 UPDATE FROM PARTNERS IN ADVOCACY
Partners in Advocacy are continuing to deliver advocacy services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Subject to Public Health guidance and our own risk assessment, we may be able to meet our advocacy partners face-to-face, and where we cannot, we will offer advocacy support via phone, email, or other digital platforms. Please contact us for further information.
What is independent advocacy?
Independent Advocacy is a free service which helps people have their voices heard, their rights upheld, and their views taken into account when important issues are happening in their lives.
What about me?
We all advocate for ourselves and others at some point in our lives. If you are a parent or carer, you will have no doubt spoken to service providers and professionals on behalf of the person you care for about various issues that may have arisen. Sometimes though it can help to have an independent person to support them to make their voice stronger and to make sure that their rights are protected.
What’s different about having an independent advocacy worker?
An independent advocacy worker is a person free from the control or direction of other service providers and of the family, and is able to think and act freely with, or on behalf of, another in order to defend or safeguard their rights without any other agenda.
Sometimes it may be that the relatives and carers find it difficult to speak up for their loved ones. On occasion there may be differing views within the family or between the person, their family and professionals about what is best.
An advocacy worker will not judge what is best for their advocacy partner or give advice. They will ensure that the person has access to any specialist advice that is required for them to make their own decision and that their rights are upheld.
Most importantly, the advocacy worker will stand with them even when their views are at odds with what others might deem as not to be in their best interests. Using an Advocacy worker helps to clearly distinguish the views and goals of the person amidst those of others.
If the advocacy partner’s wishes are not realised, their advocacy worker will also help them to understand why, and then to go on to explore what other choices might need to be considered in order to move things forward.
Situations in which an Independent Advocacy Worker might be helpful:
- Mental Health Tribunals
- AWI Case Conferences
- Meetings and reviews
- Children’s Hearings
- Getting information, exploring options
- Accessing legal advice
- Additional support for learning
- Accessing services
Referrals...
If you would like to make a referral please call 0131 478 7723. Our Duty Advocate would be happy to take your call.
WHO SHOULD MAKE A REFERRAL?
At Partners in Advocacy we take referrals from a broad range of people from, individuals themselves, to family, to professionals. In general, anyone can refer a person to Partners in Advocacy.
