Definitions of Advocacy

Citizen Advocate

Citizen advocates are matched with people who share common interests. They may enjoy each others company and choose to go on outings together or make use of local amenities, such as leisure centres. Over time as the volunteer gets to know his or her partner, we hope that this relationship develops to a level where the volunteer can support their partner to express their views regarding matters that are important to them, and on occasions uphold their partners rights. These partnerships are based on

C   Confidentiality

C   Respect

C   Trust

Group Advocates

As people with learning difficulties have moved from large institutions to community based accommodation, the need for independent representation has grown. Forums are supported by a group advocate, to obtain the views of residents on the services they receive. We also recognise that some volunteers may not wish to work on a one to one basis but feel they could support a group of people. The advocate supports the group to put forward their views and help them conduct meetings and write letters on their behalf if necessary.

Short-term / Crisis Advocacy

Volunteers are also needed to undertake short-term advocacy. This is also known as crisis advocacy or issue advocacy. Here the volunteer is matched with a person to work on a specific problem in their life such as housing or financial difficulties. The advocate will support that person until the “crisis or issue” is over and then will move on.

Because of definition, people with learning disabilities have difficulty in problem solving and often in communicating with others, they may need more intensive help in times of crisis. Crisis advocacy may lead the advocate to deal with bereavement, homelessness, abuse, criminal charges (as per the Appropriate Adult, Police & Criminal Evidence Act) and many other crisis situations. Advocates are not supposed to replace professionals but in crisis situations it is important that they can provide good listening skills, be supportive, reliable and assertive.

Self-Advocacy

Self -advocacy is defined as `a process in which an individual or group of people speak or act on their own behalf in pursuit of their own interest and needs’

However in more simplistic terms it is a process whereby service users are promoted and encouraged to speak up for themselves at meetings, reviews and making daily choices as well as being involved in larger forums that make recommendations that can affect the community as a whole e.g. Partnership Boards and Ambassadors.

Non-instructed Advocacy

Non-Instructed advocacy is used as a last resort when all other forms of communication have been exhausted, these forms may include, observation, talking mats, communication boards, talking to someone! and actively listening.

The advocate has to bear in mind a person’s fundamental needs, for example:

Ø      Access to satisfactory care

Ø      Freedom of Choice

Ø      Promoting Self Value

Ø      Opportunities for progression

To aid this process advocates utilise the ‘Watching Brief’, which concentrates on a defined baseline of needs, uses the power of asking ‘Why?’, is used in a non-prescriptive way and the person advocating does not offer their own option or express a view.

A valuable tool to use is the eight domains to a quality of life, which is taken from work developed by Chris Sterling form Choices Housing.  These concentrate on a person’s:

Competence, community presence, continuity, choice & influence, individuality, status & respect, partnerships & relationships and well-being.

If all else fails when supporting someone the simple question to ask and think about is, “what is in it for him/her?”