Advocacy

People with whom the advocate works are called ‘advocacy partners.’ The advocate’s first task is to help and enable her/his advocacy partner to speak up effectively for themselves and if that becomes not possible, for the time being or permanently, to speak up on behalf of the advocacy partner.

At all times the advocate takes the partner’s wishes as the basis for her/his work - NOT what the advocate or someone else ‘prescribes,’ thinks is right or is “in your best interests.”

To ensure there are no conflicts of interest, advocates operate with complete independence. Individuals and bodies which put themselves forward as ‘Advocacy Services’ but who have their work compromised by fear of losing funding from public authorities, service level agreements from funding authorities, or allegiance to government policies, cannot maintain good advocacy practice and are termed PSEUDO ADVOCATES.

ADVOCACY has developed positively over the years especially pioneered in the mental health field by organisations such as ESAN (East Suffolk Advocacy Network) and UKAN (United Kingdom Advocacy Network). UKAN in particular pioneered advocacy training and developed a Code of Practice from which the principles have been developed and adopted by advocacy agencies throughout the country.

Separate important developments have been:

• The statutory installation of Independent Mental Capacity Advocates under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

• Statutory advocacy provision for people subject to compulsory action under the Mental Health Act 2007. This part of the Act though, was only implemented in April 2009.

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  There are several useful references centering on advocacy. I have set out some below: All are directly accessible pdf files.

  • A Code of Practice for Advocacy developed by Action for Advocacy based on The Advocacy Charter. This Code is used by many, if not most, pan-disability organisations in the UK.

  • Making a Real Difference. Written by Jackie Robinson for the Older People’s Advocacy Alliance (OPAAL), this is the full report, funded by DH , of the national development project which ran from October 2003 to September 2006. The report contains valuable observations and data for all advocates.

  • The Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service, a Department of Health publication is as good an explanation as any. However, the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice, although huge, is essential reading. It can be found at this external website and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards here.

  • In 2002, as part of the battles raging around the Mental Health Bill, the DH commissioned Di Barnes, Toby Brandon with Tricia Webb of Durham University to produce standards for the advocacy provisions in the Bill. There was little consultation but I did manage to contact them and they sent me a draft. Mt response to that draft is here. the Durham University report on standards, Independent Specialist Advocacy in England and Wales: Recommendations for Good Practice, is a useful read.

  • For ease of reference I have separated out the current Mental Health Act Code of PracticeChapter on Advocacy and have included a quirky little DH document Myth buster - Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA). The current Mental Health Act Code of Practice is essential reading in its entirety and can be found here at the Department of Health website.

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