Where advocacy happens - Friday

Advocacy matters and happens everywhere, not just behind a desk or phone.

To mark Advocacy Awareness Week 2023, we’re sharing snapshots from our advocates’ caseloads to illustrate the variety of issues our advocates are involved in, the practicalities of how we deliver our service and, most importantly, the impact we have on the people we support to help answer the question #WhatIsAdvocacy. *

Friday – Residential Care Home, Newcastle

Simon was referred to us by the local authority when a decision was being made about where he should live and if a secure setting was the right option for him. Simon has complex needs with a history of offending and drug and alcohol misuse as well as having a learning disability so it’s important he has the support of an advocate to help him understand the process and make sure his human rights are upheld.

I was initially appointed as Simon’s Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) but he’s also entitled to a Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) so I’ve taken on that role too to provide consistency for Simon – this also means I can use the relationship I’ve built up with Simon to gain a better understanding of his wishes.

We’ve been discussing appealing the decision that Simon should stay in a secure setting and therefore have his liberty restricted, so today I’m talking him through what the court process would involve and how I could help him access legal representation from a solicitor.

Visit Where advocacy happens (yvc.org.uk) for the rest of our 'Where advocacy happens' series.