Advocacy Rights Hub

(0151) 707 1900

Principles/Standards of Independent Advocacy

The following are based on those originally adopted by the Liverpool Advocacy Forum. These were the subject of consultation with a wider range of stakeholders during 2008, and subsequently amended and adopted as the Standards and Principles for independent advocacy in Liverpool. The Hub will have the responsibility for ensuring that providers of independent advocacy sign up to the Principles/Standards.

Any organisation funded by the City Council and Primary Care Trust will be required to have the Basic Organisational Standards in place.

The Hub will have a Principles and Ethics Committee, which will deal with any conflicts of interest that arise.

Basic Organisational Standards

1. Organisations must be financially sound with robust management, governance, accounting structures and complaints procedure
2. Being clear to those using the advocacy service what information is recorded and keeping it private
3. Providing information that is easy to understand and accessible to all
4. Respect diversity and treating all people fairly and equally and having a policy that says how they will do this.
5. Ensuring that the service/group is safe for everyone both involved in it and using it and comply with the relevant legislation
6. Checking what it does for people and ensuring that services reach those who are most in need
7. Have a mechanism in place to deal with potential organisational conflicts of interest.

Principles/Standards of Advocacy

1. That the independence of the advocacy scheme from the delivery of other services to clients/partners is vital in order to avoid conflict of interest.
2. That the advocacy partner/client is in control of things and will be given information so that s/he can make her/his own choice.
3. That the advocate will help the client/partner to speak up for her/himself whenever possible.
4. That the service/group will ensure that advocates are appropriately prepared and supported in their role.
5. That advocacy support is free to those wishing to use it.
6. That in situations when the client is unable to instruct an advocate, the organisation should comply with the current best practice e.g. “The Watching Brief”.

Peer / Self Advocacy

1. It is important that self- advocacy groups are clearly independent of service providers, families and carers
2. It is also expected that their members should direct them