What is an advocate in care and how does care advocacy work?

Many resources are available for those who may need additional help making important life decisions. Care advocacy services are one such resource, and they ensure that you fully understand your care and support.

What is advocacy in care?

Advocacy services offer support to help people express their views, understand their rights, and participate in decisions that affect their lives, particularly when they may have difficulty speaking for themselves. These services are provided by advocates, who are trained individuals who can help people navigate complex systems and ensure their voices are heard. 

What is the role of an advocate?

Advocacy services are independent, which means they don’t work for councils or the NHS and are free from conflicts of interest. 

The role of a care advocate is to assist you and ensure that you have the confidence and skills you need to voice your concerns or ask relevant questions about your care.

Care advocates can help with things such as attending assessments with you, writing letters on your behalf, or helping you communicate in situations where you might not feel comfortable doing so yourself.

What are care act advocates?

Care Act advocates support people in understanding their rights under the Care Act and in being fully involved in a local authority assessment, care review, care and support planning, or safeguarding process.

What can advocates do?

Advocates can help you talk about your feelings and express your wishes when planning your care support. They can also help you figure out the best options if you're struggling to make decisions. 

Advocate support services may be able to help you with:

• Understanding the care support process
• Being there during the planning of your care support
• Helping you through any significant changes or decisions
• Accompanying you during safeguarding reviews
• Supporting you to protect your rights
• Helping you to challenge any decisions made, if you disagree with them.

Who commissions advocacy services?

Local councils typically commission advocacy services. 

Under the Care Act, local authorities have a duty to arrange independent advocacy, ensuring access for those who need it, regardless of whether they or their carers wish to be supported.

Who can use an advocacy service?

Advocacy services are available for anyone who feels they need extra support, particularly for those who find it difficult to understand care and support or are not comfortable speaking up for themselves. 

Advocacy services are an important resource for those looking to move into supported living or residential care, or for people who already receive support but want to change their level of care.

Where can I find advocacy services near me?

You can find professional advocacy services nationwide, with charities and organisations offering independent advocacy and support services. Here are just a few:

POhWER care advocate services

POhWER offers independent advocacy services throughout England. They work with people living with autism, physical disabilities, sensory impairment and mental health conditions.

The Advocacy People

The Advocacy People is an independent charity which provides a range of services across the south of England for those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries and mental health conditions.

RETHINK care advocate services

RETHINK provides support to those with mental health conditions who may need assistance in making informed decisions and getting access to the services they’re entitled to.

Disability Rights UK has a complete list of resources and available advocacy services for you to find out more.

How does Lifeways support individuals to access advocacy services?

Along with helping you find the most appropriate care advocacy services should you need them, Lifeways has adopted several approaches that empower the people we support to be their own advocates. 

Co-production

Co-production at Lifeways has been designed to give the people we support a voice and help shape their support. 

“You can’t offer the outcome people want, or offer personalised support, if you’re not listening to the experiences of those you support. I’m proud to work for Lifeways, as we’re committed to personalisation and to continually learning and reflecting,” said Jodie, Head of Quality at Lifeways.

Our co-production approach includes the opportunity for the people we support to help recruit their team: from getting involved in creating the job adverts, helping to choose the shortlisted candidates, to the option of attending the formal interview process and asking any questions they may have.

See the support we offer through our co-production services today. 

Quality care checker team 

Another part of our approach was hiring a voluntary Quality Checker team. Although government regulators inspect our services, we wanted to give the people we support the opportunity to inspect the quality of what we provide, too. 

Our Quality Checkers receive training and support and are given a checklist that includes sections about the standard of support given, their support team, and any other observations about quality standards in the service. As an organisation, our aim is to have a Quality Checker assess the quality of the service we provide for every person we support. 

Are you interested in learning more about the quality of our services? Read our guide that explains how individuals supported by Lifeways help check the quality of our services.

Lifeway's approach to care advocacy in the UK

We believe that every person we support has the right to have a voice, feel included, and have the opportunity to shape the support they receive. Having access to advocacy services helps people feel more in control of their lives. 

To learn more about the support Lifeways provides, please contact our friendly team or start your search to find support in your area.