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A MAP OF INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY ACROSS SCOTLAND
ORKNEY ADVOCACY
NHS Orkney
There is one local authority within Orkney NHS Board area:
Orkney Islands Council
Advocacy Planning Process
An advocacy steering group has been tasked with commissioning independent advocacy provision, overseeing, implementing and reviewing the Orkney Island Independent Advocacy Plan. This group is led by NHS Orkney and includes Orkney Islands Council, with representatives from social services and housing, and from the voluntary and independent sector. Representation from service users and carers is presently being considered via CUPID (Carers and Users Patient Involvement Database).
Advocacy Organisations in Orkney
Project details
- Independent
- Professional and Volunteer Advocacy
- Short term/crisis and long-term advocacy
- Generic: vulnerable people over the age of 16
- Orkney Islands
Funding | 2003/4 | 2004/5 | 2005/6 | Date of Review |
Orkney Islands Council | 12,760 | 12,760 | 12,760 | |
Community Fund | 34,450 | 34,450 | 34,450 | |
Lloyds TSB | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | |
Total Statutory Funding for Orkney Advocacy in 2003/4
The total statutory funding for Orkney is 12,760, for all independent, individual and generic advocacy.
Gaps in Independent Advocacy
- Advocacy Orkney's current funding package does not enable the organisation to provide effective and accessible advocacy to people living in the remoter areas of the Orkney Isles
- People with a mental health disorder
- There is no current advocacy provision for children
- Older people within residential settings
- Learning disabilities is the biggest area of unmet need as, because of funding constraints, Advocacy Orkney is unable to offer fully, a citizen advocacy service.
Priorities for Development
- The development of advocacy for people with a mental health disorder to meet the requirements of the Mental Health Care and Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003
- Children's advocacy, funding in place, provider sought, willing to deliver as required. There needs to be discussions with Advocacy Orkney as to whether a referral point could be incorporated into their new structure. 17,500 from the Children Services Change Fund has been allocated to develop this provision
- Ongoing awareness training for statutory service staff
Conclusions
There are questions around the adequacy of Advocacy Orkney's funding. They currently do not feel that they are able to provide an effective generic service which is accessible to all of the Orkney Isles. Advocacy Orkney has indicated that while all groups are being offered advocacy their funding situation means that there is still some degree of unmet need across all client groups. It is important that the funding situation is addressed as a matter of urgency.
The Board of NHS Orkney agreed to fund Advocacy Orkney 13,000, if this sum could be found within available resources. To date, no sum has been found as the Board struggles to get within budget. Presently, NHS Orkney is the only NHS Board in Scotland not directly funding independent advocacy. This situation should be addressed during the lifetime of the Local Health Plan and Finance Strategy.
This 5-year financial plan is being progressed concurrently with the Local Health Plan and in it NHS Orkney will seek the best way of meeting it there.
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