Here’s an overview of how advocates support people – whether that’s on the phone, by video call, or face-to-face. To ask for an advocate for yourself or someone else, click here.
What advocates do
An advocate supports people to:
- speak up about what they want
- know what their rights are
- understand information so they can make their own decisions
An advocate will not give advice, make choices for someone, take another person’s side, or judge.
How advocates work
- We are independent from other services.
- Advocacy is free of charge to the person using the service.
- Advocacy is confidential; we will not pass on anything someone shares unless they ask us to, or there’s a risk of harm.
What advocates can help with
Advocates can support people to:
- speak up at meetings
- get the right support
- make a complaint
- get the services people need.
What we do
We talk with people and give information in a way they understand. Our advocates will:
- work with people one-to-one
- explain what we can and cannot do
- give information about other services.