Job Profile: Advocacy Worker

Advocacy means giving an individual support to help them express their views and wishes, and help them to stand up for their rights. Someone who helps an individual in this way is called an advocate.

In health and social care, it is very important that individuals who are unable to promote their own rights and choices have access to professional and independent advocacy services. In this case, independent means both independent from the individual and their family/friends, as well as independent from the service the individual is accessing. Many advocacy services are provided by charitable/third sector organisations. This does not mean that advocates are volunteers - almost all advocates are paid because they require specialist training.

It is not suitable for family members or friends to be advocates because with such a close relationship, it can be difficult to separate your own wishes for that person from what is actually best for or preferred by the individual. In cases where relationships are difficult, professional advocacy also ensures that family members or friends do not exert undue influence over individuals. Finally, advocacy requires expertise, such as knowledge of rights and laws.

The role of advocacy worker

Advocacy workers will work with a wide variety of people, for example individuals with learning disabilities, mental ill health, physical disabilities, communication challenges, children or the elderly - essentially anyone that needs help to express their wishes and achieve equitable care.

Advocacy workers will work in a variety of settings: within the community, in people's homes, in hospitals and residential care, court rooms, prisons and so on.

Advocacy workers will support people to:

• learn about their options and make decisions about their own lives
• secure their rights and access the help they need
• self advocate and represent themselves.

• represent a person and speak up on their behalf.

This might look like supporting an older adult in residential care that has had some of their freedoms taken away, or helping decisions to be made about the care of an individual who may not have mental capacity.

Skills required to be a successful advocacy worker

• Effective communication
• Ability to form strong and trusting working relationships
• Knowledge of rights and the law, e.g. Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Confidence and courage to stand up for others and challenge decisions
• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Problem solving and working out creative and innovative ways to achieve things

Advocacy in action

The two videos below show you how advocacy can be used to help individuals achieve their rights and have their choices promoted.