The Role of an Advocate

An advocate enters into a partnership with another person. The 'partners' would be introduced to one another via the Advocacy Co-ordinator, who makes every effort to 'match' suitable partners, for example some people would prefer of a similar age to themselves, or maybe an advocate has a particular skill or interest in a specific area of disability. Relationships will vary, according to induvidual need - some will be short term, to help someone through a crisis situation - some will be longer term.
Advocates can help their partners in many ways:

• Assisting their partner to have a say in his/her life. Accompanying their partner at meetings, reviews, appointments etc.
• Supporting - spending time developing a relationship within which their partner feels equal, valued and secure.
• Ensuring that their partner receives everything to which he/she is entitled.

There are different types of advocacy. These include Self, Peer, Citizen and Independent. At the Centre for Independent Living we work with Citizen and Independent Advocacy.

 

Independent Advocacy

When a paid volunteer advocacy worker works with a person to help them 'speak up' for themselves or represents their views for them.

An advocacy worker may only need to work with a person for a short time. They will work on a particular issue, this will not be a long term partnership.

An advocacy worker is:

• On the side of the person, and will try to find out what the person feels and thinks about a particular issue.
• Trained in different issues
• In contact with other professionals such as care managers, community nurses etc.
• Kept up to date with latest information

Citizen Advocacy is:

When an unpaid volunteer who is independent of services works with a partner, normally this partnership will be long term.

The citizen advocate's loyalty is to the advocacy partner.

The advocacy relationship is based on trust and confidentiality

The citizen advocate identifies the advocacy partner's choices and decisions, but does not make them.

All partnerships will be set up to benefit the person requiring a citizen advocate.

Citizen advocates will be recruited from all walks of life.

 

 

For more information on becoming a citizen advocate, please contact either Nicola Benney or Andrea Lloyd on 01443 408418