Advocacy Flashcards
What does an advocate do?
An advocate is a person who enables a service user to, express their views and concerns so that they are taken seriously, access information and services, defend and promote their rights and responsibilities and explore choices and options.
An advocate can enable people to challenge discrimination and avoid the effects of being labelled (stigmatised)
Who can be an advocate?
This depends on the kind of support a service user wants in each situation. Some organisations and charities have professional advocacy services, friends and family members and carers can act as advocates. an individual can be an advocate on their own behalf (called self-advocacy)
Who might need an advocate?
People with mental ill health
People with a learning disability
People with speech difficulties or confidence issues
Peoples who’s first language is not English
Children
What are the types of advocacy?
Peer advocacy: where people with, for example, mental health can support someone with similar problems
Statutory advocacy: Where an individual is entitled to advocacy under the law.
How can health care professional represent service users?
Complaints and whistle-blowing policies also representing the interests of service users. All care settings must provide access to complaints procedures, which are checked in an inspection and can lead to service improvements. Whistle-blowing helps maintain the best practice if a member of staff raises concerns about the quality of care.
