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A MAP OF INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY ACROSS SCOTLAND

STATE HOSPITAL ADVOCACY

The State Hospital Board is the only provider of high security forensic psychiatric care in Scotland. It is situated in Carstairs, in rural Lanarkshire.

Advocacy Planning Process

As yet there is no formal advocacy planning process. However, there is a named senior manager from the Hospital who is the link person for advocacy, and who sits on the Board of management of the Patients Advocacy Service (PAS) in a (co-opted) advisory capacity.

Advocacy Organisations at the State Hospital

Project details

• Not independent. Managed by SCVO
• Professional and volunteer advocacy for mentally disordered offenders
• For Patients at the State Hospital
• Independent Evaluation by Advocacy 2000 in 2000

Total Statutory Funding at the State Hospital in 2003/4

98,003 plus financial assistance in kind, all mental health, individual and independent.

Gaps in Independent Advocacy

• Collective advocacy

Priorities for Development

• Further investment in PAS so that it can continue to meet the needs of all patients who require independent advocacy
• Establishment of a formal planning structure for advocacy, in addition to PAS management committee meetings
• Jointly agreed protocol between PAS and hospital management
• Full programme of hospital staff training and awareness raising in advocacy
• Further independent evaluation of PAS is required within the coming year
• Impact of advocacy on the service provided by the State hospital needs to be monitored

Conclusions

In addition to the priorities cited above, the State Hospital will need to thoroughly review expected take-up of the advocacy service in light of the emerging legislation, so that sufficient additional resources can be allocated.

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