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A MAP OF INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY ACROSS SCOTLAND
CONTENT AND LAYOUT OF THE REPORT
We hope that this report will provide a useful resource for anyone who has an interest in the development of independent advocacy across Scotland.
The report has a dual purpose: to inform the reader of the development of independent advocacy across Scotland; and as a national directory of advocacy provision.
Following a brief consultation, we have taken on the views of those who responded and have designed this report in a way that we hope is more accessible and easy to use, and less textual than previous reports.
The Advocacy Safeguards Agency (ASA) is tasked with updating this report on an annual basis. The report is an organic resource, which we hope to refine and improve on a recurring basis. It is essential that this resource reflects what people need and ASA would welcome your comments on its format and content so that we can endeavour to improve it. The report will also be available soon via the ASA web site.
The report has been divided into NHS Board areas and includes a description of individual advocacy organisations and groups and their level, source and security of funding.
The information contained in this report was gained through questionnaires, existing and current Independent Advocacy Plans, and discussions with advocacy commissioners and advocacy organisations and groups.
The conclusions drawn and definitions used in this report are based on "Independent Advocacy - A Guide to Commissioners" (Scottish Executive 2001) and Supplement, "Key Ideas on Independent Advocacy" (Advocacy 2000), and "Principles and Standards in Independent Advocacy Organisations and Groups" (Advocacy 2000).
Explanatory Notes
- It is acknowledged that this is not a fully comprehensive list, although every effort has been made to make it so. This is particularly the case for independent collective organisations and groups. As such, if there are any organisations and groups who could be included in the next update of this report, please contact the Advocacy Safeguards Agency.
- Population figures for each of the NHS Board areas are based upon population statistics provided by the Scottish Executive Health Department.
- Gaps in advocacy, listed at the end of each area section, have been identified according to our understanding of the client groups commonly included in community Care Plans, who are perceived as vulnerable and therefore may require advocacy. Where any such client group does not have access to advocacy in a given area, we have listed it as a gap. We have also taken account, in our assessment of gaps and priorities for development, of local stakeholder perceptions of what the gaps and priorities are. These are set out in local Advocacy Plans and in information submitted to us by commissioners and advocacy organisations for the Map.
A matter of Independence?
A question that has been commonly asked in the planning process is "why is this independence issue so important"? The reason is simply because one of the fundamental principles of independent advocacy is loyalty to the individual and no one else.
Where advocacy is managed by an agency that provides direct care services there is a potential conflict of interest. This can make it difficult for the advocate to be wholly on the side of the person they are advocating for or with.
This focus on independence is not intended to detract from the advocacy role taken on by many other people in their personal or professional lives.
There continues to be some confusion or uncertainty around the issue of Independence. In order to introduce a concise definition of the boundaries of this report, the following working definitions of an independent advocacy organisation or group were applied:
Independent Advocacy Organisations provide advocacy as a sole or core function and are not managed by bodies that provide care and support services.
Independent Collective or Self-advocacy organisations and Groups are clearly identified locally based bodies that have advocacy as a sole or core function and which are made up only of users of care and support services (past or present), or carers. They may be facilitated or supported by an independent worker(s) who does not provide (and is not employed by an organisation that provides) care and support services, or has an interest in this.
In light of this, every organisation is identified according to their independent status.
The independent status of each organisation listed has been determined by the information provided by that organisation, or where a project has been defined through an ASA Evaluation and/ or within the boundaries of the definition cited above.
We hope that the information given is as accurate as possible, but unless the organisation has recently undergone an ASA evaluation which examines its independent status, we cannot guarantee that any statement regarding Independence is fully accurate.
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