headerphoto

What is advocacy

Advocacy is speaking up for, or acting on behalf of, yourself or another person.

Some people aren’t clear about of their rights as citizens, or have difficulty in fully understanding these rights. Others may find it hard to speak up for themselves. Advocacy can enable people to take more responsibility and control for the decisions which affect their lives.

  • Advocacy can help people to:

  • Make clear their own views and wishes;

  • Express and present their views effectively and faithfully;

  • Obtaining independent advice and accurate information;

  • Negotiate and resolve of conflict.

 

What an advocate does

An advocate represents others, or assists others to represent themselves. An advocate will take a person's views forward, ensure that the person is kept fully informed and has the information they need to be able to make an informed decision or choice. Once a referral has been made, an advocate will visit the person, discuss the reason for referral to the service, inform them of what an advocate can and can't do and, where and when requested, offer representation or support for the person to represent themselves, if agreed. Once the residents views/wishes/needs are established, we take those forward, or assist them in taking them forward. Advocacy will continue until the issue is either resolved or we have exhausted all possibilities.

An advocate will listen, hear, respect and act with the resident in mind. The resident's views/wishes/needs are first and last. An advocate puts her/his own values to one side, is non-judgemental and enables her/his advocacy partner to decide what is the right or wrong outcome for them.
 

What an advocate doesn't do

  • Never influences her/his advocacy partner

  • Never makes decisions for her/his advocacy partner

  • Never challenges her/his advocacy partner's thoughts and wishes

  • Never advocates for someone, or, assists them to advocate - where they are capable to advocate on their own behalf - without permission to do so.

  • Is not a counsellor

  • Is not a mediator

  • Never introduces or expresses their own issues or opinions