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How to become an
Advocate The Derbyshire Advocacy Service is a voluntary, independent organisation which recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to advocate on behalf of adults who have learning difficulties. The service provides this support in different ways.
The Derbyshire Advocacy Service, originally known as the Derbyshire Advocacy Service, has been in operation for over 14 years and in that time the service has spread throughout the county to include:
The service is a registered charity run by a board of directors and receives significant support from the Southern Derbyshire Health Authority and Derbyshire Social Services. The service has also received grants from the National Lottery and the TSB Bank. This funding has allowed the expansion of the service with the recruitment of Co-ordinators for each area supported by an administrator, an assistant service manager and service manager. The aim of the service is to befriend, empower and uphold the rights of adults with learning difficulties who live in Derbyshire (not High Peak area). This is achieved by setting up and maintaining one to one equal partnerships, facilitating group advocacy and providing short-term (issue) advocacy support for people with learning difficulties via volunteers or staff., The objective of the service is to ensure equal opportunities for people of different ages, gender, ethnic groups and degrees of ability in its work. It seeks to avoid the use of any stigmatising imagery and language towards people with learning difficulties. We aim to ensure proper representation and break down the barriers that prevent a person obtaining their rights. WHO CAN VOLUNTEER Volunteering as an advocate is open to all sections of the community. There is no age limit and no previous experience is required. However, we are looking for a number of personal qualities such as those outlined below: Empathy: - We would expect volunteers to be able to empathise with their partner. This means to see the world through the eyes of their partner and understand how they are feeling. This empathy may come from having been a service user, carer themselves or from own life experience. Able to keep boundaries - the advocacy relationship is a difficult one to manage. The advocate will have their own opinions and ideas but must be able to put tem to one side in favour of their partner's. They must be able to refrain from imposing solutions on their partner. (Interview/ Training) Reliability and Trustworthiness - partners must be able to rely on their advocate. This will include knowing that they will turn up when and where they say and on time. It also means knowing that their advocate will keep their promises. (Training /References) Able to respect confidentiality - the advocate must be able to understand that the advocacy relationship is a special one and that the advocate owes a duty of confidence to their partner. The nature of that duty will be explained during preparation but volunteers should be able to demonstrate that they are able to keep a confidence. ( Training /References) Able to manage stress - this includes knowing when to ask for support, being able to admit when things are not going well, being willing to participate in support sessions and training events. (Interview /References) Ability to be flexible - The agenda for an advocacy partnership is set by the partner and the advocate must be able to adapt themselves to the changing wishes and aspirations of their partner. There can also be high and conflicting expectations of the advocate from the partner and, for example, people involved in their care. The advocate must be able to respond appropriately to these different situations. (Interview / Training) Stability - People who are using or have used health or Social Services often bring valuable experience to their advocacy role. However, advocacy may not be suitable for people who are not in reasonable health or who have gone through or about to go through a major life change. Individual circumstances will be discussed by the support worker and volunteer together. (Interview/ References) Equal Opportunities - advocates need to be aware of their own prejudices and ready to confront their own and other people's prejudices in promoting Derbyshire Advocacy Service Equal Opportunities Policy. Friendliness - Above all, the advocate should be friendly, able to relate to people well and be self-confident. (Interview/ Training /References)
Experience Training
Expenses Ongoing Support Availability If you decide you would like to talk more about becoming a volunteer, you will need to contact Aish Palmer at our Head Office in Derby. Please see out contact info page for details, and we will arrange to meet you wherever and whenever is convenient. If you still wish to proceed, we will
ask you to complete an application form, and a CRB (Criminal Record Bureau)
form. We will also ask for your passport, driving licence or birth
certificate, and a recent utility bill. We will copy these and return the
originals to you. The application form is available in 2 formats - Microsoft Word, or Adobe Acrobat. Please click on the format you wish to download.
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