Rob Warren ConsultancyRob Warren Consultancy

Advocacy with young carersAdvocacy with young carers

Independent advocacyIndependent advocacy

““Many people in society are disempowered by Many people in society are disempowered by systems which have a significant effect on systems which have a significant effect on almost every aspect of their lives. These are almost every aspect of their lives. These are people who are disempowered to such an people who are disempowered to such an extent that they are unlikely to be able to extent that they are unlikely to be able to fulfil their basic human needs, or demand fulfil their basic human needs, or demand their basic human rights. A person's initial their basic human rights. A person's initial hopes and dreams can be severely limited hopes and dreams can be severely limited by this. Independent Advocacy can help to by this. Independent Advocacy can help to widen a person's horizons and enable them widen a person's horizons and enable them to become active members of society.”to become active members of society.”

Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance 2007Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance 2007

Advocacy with young carersAdvocacy with young carers

Course aim:Course aim:

A workshop designed to:A workshop designed to: Promote understanding of advocacy for young Promote understanding of advocacy for young

people and its contextpeople and its context Present the core values underpinning advocacy and Present the core values underpinning advocacy and

models or approaches to advocacymodels or approaches to advocacy Identify barriers to effective advocacy and conflicts Identify barriers to effective advocacy and conflicts

of interestof interest Share experiences and develop an understanding Share experiences and develop an understanding

of the core skills required in providing advocacy.of the core skills required in providing advocacy.

Advocacy?Advocacy?

Literal: -Literal: - The act of pleading for, supporting The act of pleading for, supporting or recommending a cause or proposal.or recommending a cause or proposal.

Literal: - Literal: - To publicly support or suggest an To publicly support or suggest an idea, development or way of doing idea, development or way of doing something.something.

Contextual: - Contextual: - Speaking out for yourself or Speaking out for yourself or on behalf others.on behalf others.

HistoryHistory

Western ModelWestern Model

500BC Athens500BC Athens Roman law and politicsRoman law and politics Development of political and legal Development of political and legal

structures in European and structures in European and Western cultureWestern culture

Advocacy rolesAdvocacy roles

Solicitors, barristersSolicitors, barristers PoliticiansPoliticians Trade unionistsTrade unionists ActivistsActivists CampaignersCampaigners

Independent advocacy for Independent advocacy for vulnerable groupsvulnerable groups

Developed over the past 25 years from Developed over the past 25 years from USA and EuropeUSA and Europe

Development led by campaigning user Development led by campaigning user groups in disability and mental health fieldgroups in disability and mental health field

Recognition that others are also at risk Recognition that others are also at risk Has grown from just one or two Has grown from just one or two

independent organisationsindependent organisations

Policy and LegislationPolicy and Legislation United Nations Convention on the Rights of United Nations Convention on the Rights of

the Child (UNCRC) 1989 (Ratified by the UK the Child (UNCRC) 1989 (Ratified by the UK Government in 1991) –Government in 1991) – Recognises children Recognises children and young people are holders of human rights and young people are holders of human rights have a right to participate in decisions which have a right to participate in decisions which effect them in all aspects of their lives (Aeffect them in all aspects of their lives (Article rticle 1212). It is apparent that to achieve this ). It is apparent that to achieve this meaningfully they need information, support, meaningfully they need information, support, encouragement to be their own advocate and if encouragement to be their own advocate and if necessary have someone to advocate for them.necessary have someone to advocate for them.

Children Act 1989Children Act 1989 – section 26A (amended in – section 26A (amended in 2002 by insertion of Section 119 of Adoption and 2002 by insertion of Section 119 of Adoption and Children Act 2002) imposes a duty on local Children Act 2002) imposes a duty on local authorities to ensure advocacy services are authorities to ensure advocacy services are provided in certain circumstances (e.g. making a provided in certain circumstances (e.g. making a complaint). complaint).

Disability Discrimination Act 1995Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Data Protection Act 1998Data Protection Act 1998 Human Rights Act 1998Human Rights Act 1998

What does advocacy What does advocacy mean in the mean in the

context of young context of young carers?carers?

AdvocacyAdvocacy

““At its broadest, advocacy is the At its broadest, advocacy is the provision of information, provision of information, explanations, support, simple explanations, support, simple encouragement to participate, or encouragement to participate, or direct advocacy by way of direct advocacy by way of representation”representation”

Getting it Right for Every Child: Big Words Big Tables: Scottish Executive 2006Getting it Right for Every Child: Big Words Big Tables: Scottish Executive 2006

Advocacy is about:Advocacy is about: ParticipatingParticipating Having a voiceHaving a voice Speaking outSpeaking out EmpoweringEmpowering SafeguardingSafeguarding EnablingEnabling InformingInforming Making decisionsMaking decisions RightsRights

Advocacy?Advocacy?The main themes of advocacy are:The main themes of advocacy are: Safeguarding people who are vulnerable and Safeguarding people who are vulnerable and

discriminated against or whom services find discriminated against or whom services find difficult to serve. difficult to serve.

Empowering people who need a stronger voice by Empowering people who need a stronger voice by enabling them to express their own needs and enabling them to express their own needs and make their own decisions. make their own decisions.

Enabling people to gain access to information, Enabling people to gain access to information, explore and understand their options, and to explore and understand their options, and to make their views and wishes known. make their views and wishes known.

Speaking on behalf of people who are unable to Speaking on behalf of people who are unable to do so for themselves.do so for themselves.

'Principles and Standards in Independent Advocacy Organisations and Groups''Principles and Standards in Independent Advocacy Organisations and Groups', Advocacy 2000, Advocacy 2000

Models of advocacyModels of advocacy Professional Advocacy (also Crisis Professional Advocacy (also Crisis

Advocacy)Advocacy)

Citizen AdvocacyCitizen Advocacy

Collective or Group AdvocacyCollective or Group Advocacy

Self AdvocacySelf Advocacy

Peer AdvocacyPeer Advocacy

Professional AdvocacyProfessional Advocacy

In this model, advocacy is provided by In this model, advocacy is provided by both paid and unpaid advocates. The aim both paid and unpaid advocates. The aim is to support people to represent their own is to support people to represent their own interests. If this is not possible, the interests. If this is not possible, the advocate will represent the person's advocate will represent the person's views.views.

The advocate provides support on specific The advocate provides support on specific issues. He or she provides information not issues. He or she provides information not advice and will provide short or long term advice and will provide short or long term support. Independent professional support. Independent professional advocates will support several people at advocates will support several people at any time.any time.

Citizen AdvocacyCitizen Advocacy This model of advocacy encourages ordinary This model of advocacy encourages ordinary

citizens to become more involved with the citizens to become more involved with the welfare of those who might need support in their welfare of those who might need support in their communities. It is based on trust between the communities. It is based on trust between the person being supported and the advocate. The person being supported and the advocate. The advocate's loyalty is to the person being advocate's loyalty is to the person being supported not to the advocacy project.supported not to the advocacy project.

The advocate is not paid and is not motivated by The advocate is not paid and is not motivated by personal gain. The advocate will gain the right to personal gain. The advocate will gain the right to be involved with their partner from the personal be involved with their partner from the personal relationship they have with the person.relationship they have with the person.

The advocate will support their partner using The advocate will support their partner using their natural skills and talents rather than by their natural skills and talents rather than by being trained for the role.being trained for the role.

The advocacy relationship will be on a 1 to 1 The advocacy relationship will be on a 1 to 1 basis and long-term.basis and long-term.

Collective or Group Collective or Group AdvocacyAdvocacy

This is when a group of people who are all facing a This is when a group of people who are all facing a common problem who get together to support common problem who get together to support each other. The individual members of the group each other. The individual members of the group may support each other over specific issues. The may support each other over specific issues. The group as a whole may campaign on an issue that group as a whole may campaign on an issue that affects them all.affects them all.

Some of the benefits of group/collective advocacy Some of the benefits of group/collective advocacy are:are: an issue may arise that is to do with the planning of an issue may arise that is to do with the planning of

services and their impact on a group of people. The services and their impact on a group of people. The collective voice can be stronger than that of the collective voice can be stronger than that of the individual. Groups are difficult to ignore. individual. Groups are difficult to ignore.

raising a difficult issue can be an isolating experience for raising a difficult issue can be an isolating experience for someone. The group experience can reduce isolation and someone. The group experience can reduce isolation and provide support.provide support.

Self AdvocacySelf Advocacy

Most often refers to group or collective Most often refers to group or collective advocacy and is an identified group of advocacy and is an identified group of individuals made up of users, likely users, or individuals made up of users, likely users, or past users of care or support services which past users of care or support services which are provided by, or on behalf of, local are provided by, or on behalf of, local authorities or health boards.authorities or health boards.

Can also refer to supporting individuals to Can also refer to supporting individuals to advocate for themselves; speak up on their advocate for themselves; speak up on their own behalf. Providing support and own behalf. Providing support and information and enabling them to make information and enabling them to make choices. choices.

Peer AdvocacyPeer Advocacy

Peer Advocacy refers to individuals who share Peer Advocacy refers to individuals who share significant life experiences and who support each significant life experiences and who support each other to speak out. The peer advocate and their other to speak out. The peer advocate and their advocacy partner may share age, gender, ethnicity, advocacy partner may share age, gender, ethnicity, diagnosis, or issues. diagnosis, or issues.

Peer advocates use their own experiences to Peer advocates use their own experiences to understand and empathise with their advocacy understand and empathise with their advocacy partner.partner.

Peer Advocacy works to:Peer Advocacy works to: Increase self awareness, confidence and  assertiveness so Increase self awareness, confidence and  assertiveness so

that the individual can speak for themselves.            that the individual can speak for themselves.            Lessen any imbalance of power between the advocate and Lessen any imbalance of power between the advocate and

their advocacy partner. their advocacy partner.

Why might young Why might young carers need carers need advocacy?advocacy?

Advocacy with young carersAdvocacy with young carers

1.1. What sort of issues do young carers What sort of issues do young carers face?face?

2.2. What model or models of advocacy What model or models of advocacy would best suit young carers?would best suit young carers?

3.3. What would support advocacy with What would support advocacy with young carers?young carers?

4.4. What challenges are there to What challenges are there to effective advocacy with young effective advocacy with young carers?carers?

Barriers and Conflicts of Barriers and Conflicts of InterestInterest

A barrier is something that prevents A barrier is something that prevents effective advocacyeffective advocacy

A conflict of interest is something A conflict of interest is something that interferes with and undermines that interferes with and undermines effective advocacyeffective advocacy

Core elements of effective Core elements of effective advocacyadvocacy

Self awarenessSelf awareness EmpathyEmpathy ListeningListening CommunicationCommunication Understanding the contextUnderstanding the context InformationInformation Confidence and assertivenessConfidence and assertiveness

Five steps to effective Five steps to effective advocacyadvocacy

1.1. Understand the problem or Understand the problem or issueissue

2.2. Gather informationGather information3.3. PlanPlan4.4. Assertive communicationAssertive communication5.5. ReviewReview