1. Independent Advocacy for Carers

2. Edinburgh Carers’ Council Who are we? Who for? Type of service? Individual advocacy Collective advocacy – groups – strategic planning Information and learning opportunities

3. Advocacy is… Listening to someone and trying to understand their point of view Finding out what makes a person feel good and valued Understanding a person’s situation and what may be stopping them from getting what they want Offering the person support to tell other people what they want or introducing them to others who may be able to help Helping someone to know what choices they have and what the consequences of these choices might be Help someone affect a decision-making process by supporting them to have their views heard and considered.

4. Why advocacy? Advocacy services evolved for the following reasons: To act as a safeguard for individuals who are vulnerable and discriminated against or whom services find difficult to serve To empower individuals who need a stronger voice by enabling them to express their own needs and make their own decisions To enable individuals to gain access to information, explore and understand their options, and to make their views and wishes known. To speak on behalf of individuals who are unable to do so for themselves

5. Wider Context  Principles of Mental Health Act/AWI Act  Mental Health Strategy  National Carers Strategy  Carers Information Strategy  Standards for Integrated Care Pathways  NHS Quality Strategy for Scotland  10 Essential Shared Capabilities  New to Forensics Training Programme

6. Individual Advocacy Key issues that carers bring to advocacy service; Concerns over care and treatment Information-sharing / exclusion Not being involved / listened to in care planning etc. Specific roles i.e. Named Person, appointee, guardianship, power of attorney (Mental Health Act, Adults with Incapacity Act) Specific issues around being involved with police & court processes Adult support & protection Act Main theme is difficulties in communication. Provision of information and support in preparing for tribunals, meetings and reviews is a large part of work.

7. Advocacy Outcomes Carers report feeling: They are more informed about their rights and have a better understanding of services more empowered and listened to Increase in confidence in carrying out specific roles i.e. as guardian, named person Increase in confidence in ability to self advocate Improved communication & relationships with professionals More confident about providing on-going support in caring relationship

8. Contact details 1 Canon Street Edinburgh EH3 5HE 0131 270 6087/ 6089 info@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk www.edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk