Community Development Worker - Luton What is Advocacy? Yvonne McKinlay Community Development Worker - Luton

What is Advocacy? Advocacy means getting support from another person to help you express your views and wishes, and to help make sure your voice is heard. Advocates empower individuals to make decisions about their lives when they feel they are not able to do this.

Anyone who is vulnerable may require advocacy Who needs an Advocate? People with; Physical disabilities Learning disabilities Learning difficulties Autism Mental Health Brain Acquired injuries Sensory impairment Anyone who is vulnerable may require advocacy

Empowerment Advocates do this by; Providing information Providing different options Listening Supporting their point of view Encouraging them to do things for themselves Including them in decisions

Why Advocacy? Advocates will; Support Listen Encourage Inform Clarify Aid understanding Enable Empower

Why Advocacy? Advocates will NOT; Influence Mediate Advise Take over Lead Put down Discourage Harass

How do we provide advocacy? Client POhWER will take referrals for advocacy support from clients and third parties (with the clients consent). POhWER can also provide non-instructed advocacy for people who may not be able to refer themselves or agree to receiving advocacy support Client Review Action Issue

How do we provide advocacy? Issue When a referral has been accepted it will be allocated to an advocate. The advocate will contact the client, or third party if appropriate, to discuss further the identified issue. An advocate may need to visit the client to support the identification of the issue. Client Review Action Issue

How do we provide advocacy? Issue When the advocate begins their work with a client they need to explain POhWERs confidentiality policy, how to make a complaint, that we are free and independent and the remit of the service. Client Review Action Issue

How do we provide advocacy? Issue When identifying the issue the advocate also needs to identify what the clients desired outcome is. The outcome will support the identification of options and the actions that will be agreed. Client Review Action Issue

How do we provide advocacy? Action Clients are given options and potential outcomes for them to make an informed decision about how to proceed. There will be options that an advocate may not agree is the best way forward and be seen as unwise decisions. Client Review Action Issue

How do we provide advocacy? Unwise Decisions Where someone is choosing to make an unwise decision the advocate will explain the potential outcome of this and as long as the client has capacity and it is not illegal or a safeguarding concern the advocate will continue to support. Client Review Action Issue

How do we provide advocacy? Review When the action has taken place the advocate needs to inform the client of the outcome and decide how to proceed. This brings us back to the client. Client Review Action Issue

Advocacy Services Statutory Services ∙ IMCA ∙ IMHA ∙ Care Act ∙ NHS Complaints Non Statutory Services: ∙ Community development ∙ Community advocacy

IMCA IMCAs support people who are un-befriended and lack capacity to make decisions around specific decisions Care reviews Safeguarding Change of accommodation Serious Medical Treatments Deprivation of Liberty IMCAs work within the guidance of the Mental Capacity Act 2005

IMHA IMHA advocates work with individuals; Detained under the Mental Health Act (even if you are currently on leave of absence from hospital) A conditionally discharged restricted patient Subject to Guardianship under the Act or Are receiving Supervised Community Treatment (SCT). Being considered for a treatment to which section 57 applies Under 18 and being considered for electro-convulsive therapy or any other treatment to which section 58A applies IMHAs work within the Mental Health Act 1983 – Amended in 2007

Care Act 2014 Care Act Advocates support individuals to; Complete a needs assessment Complete a carer’s assessment Support them with a review of their care and support plan Support individuals with safeguarding enquiry, or arranging for a Safeguarding Adults Review

Community Advocacy/CDW Support for people who are vulnerable, isolated and in need of support to get their voice heard. We also provide information and guidance if they experience substantial difficulties with the issues they are facing.

NHS Complaints Advocacy Support when someone would like to make a formal NHS complaint about any NHS funded service. Advocate can: Support with the complaint letter Attended and support at complaints meetings

How do we provide advocacy? Managing Boundaries NOT behaving like a support worker NOT behaving like a friend NOT colluding with third parties If an advocate identifies extra support needs they should discuss this with the client and offer signposting where appropriate.

How do we provide advocacy? Boundaries By keeping to the remit of the service advocates are able to keep professional boundaries in place. ∙ Advocates are Issue specific ∙ We have a 48 hour call back policy ∙ We do not give people lifts in our cars ∙ We are supporting in a professional manner ∙ We are not legal Advocates ∙ We do not fill in benefit forms/housing forms

Referrals Referrals can be made in a number of ways: Phone - 0300 4562370 Minicom – 0300 4562364 Text ‘pohwer’ and your name to 81025 Email – pohwer@pohwer.net Skype – pohwer.advocacy Fax – 0300 4562365 Post - POhWER, PO BOX 14043, Birmingham, B6 9BL

Thank you for your time! Any questions?