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New Advocacy Service for Care for the Carers
5th Nov 2009
A new Advocacy Project Worker has joined our organisation supporting carers of adults who are using Adult Social Care services, either in their own right or on behalf of the person they are caring for. The aim of the new project is to give carers support (independent of Adult Social Care) and access to information / advice that will help them make decisions about their caring situation or about the person they are caring for. The role includes attending meetings or interviews with carers and supporting them with letter writing or telephone calls.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy means supporting someone in expressing their views and feelings about their situation. It enables people to make informed choices about, and to remain in control of, their own care.
What does advocacy mean for carers?
Often carers find themselves in situations where their wishes and needs are not being taken into account. Advocacy is a way of empowering people to speak for themselves, express their views and enforce their rights.
The role of the Advocacy Worker is to support carers or the person they are caring for to express their views and wishes when they don’t feel able to or when they don’t feel they are being listened to.
What can the Independent Advocate do to help me?
Our Advocacy Worker can support you in making sure that your needs and wishes are taken into account.
This may involve:
• Helping you to access information and advice to enable you to make choices and decisions about your situation
• Writing letters or making telephone calls on your behalf
• Attending meetings or interviews with you
• Providing support if you wish to make a complaint about Social Care services you are not happy with
The advocacy worker will not tell you what to do; they are there to support you in your choices and decisions. The advocacy worker can be an extra voice for you, or the extra support you need to empower you to speak out for yourself.
Make a referral to the advocacy service. Download our Professionals referral form and tick the Advocacy box.
