Advocacy Flashcards
what is advocacy?
Advocacy is independent support to help people understand their options, know their rights and say what they want.
Importance of advocacy
This helps to make sure that people are involved as much as possible in decisions about their health and care, and that they are represented where required.
is advocacy a right?
yes
what do advocates do?
communicate their views and wishes understand their rights understand any processes and decisions they are subject to understand the options they have challenge a decision
What is advocacy not?
a replacement for appropriate services counselling or befriending legal advice a mediation service telling clients what decisions to make telling health or social care professionals what decisions to make
4 things advocacy is guided by
The Advocacy Charter: A common vision of what constitutes effective advocacy.
The Advocacy Code of Practice: Defines purpose and boundaries of the advocacy role and what people should expect from the delivery of an advocacy service.
Action Handbook to Advocacy
The Advocacy Cycle
when to refer for an independent mental capacity advocate?
The person has been assessed to lack capacity to make a best interest decision and they do not have family or friends appropriate to consult about thedecision.
Principle of the mental capacity act
Assume a person has capacity unless proved otherwise.
Do not treat people as incapable of making a decision unless you have tried all practicable steps to help them.
A person is not incapable of making a decision because their decision may seem unwise.
All acts done/decisions must be in the best interest of the person concerned.
Use the least restrictive action.
what does “lack capacity” mean
the person has an impairment or disturbance that affects the way their mind or brain works (such as a brain injury, dementia, autism, learning disabilities or mental healthproblems)
they have an impairment or disturbance which means that they are unable to make a specific decision at the time it needs to bemade
if they are unable to
understand the information about the decision
retain that information
use that information to make the decision or
communicate their decision
Both conditions mustapply.
rights of an IMCA
Meet the client in private.
Read and copy relevant social and medical records.
Seek a second medical opinion.
May challenge the decision, informally at first but can take it to the Court of Protection.
what do IMCAs not do
Make the decision.
Do the mental capacity assessment.
Persuade the person what to do.
Fill in gaps in the LA or NHS team.
Have as extensive a role as other advocates.
Delay the decision making process unless this would be right for the person.
