Have your voice be heard this Advocacy Awareness Week

'Advocacy' simply means making you feel that you have been listened to.

An 'advocate' is someone who offers independent support to make sure your views, rights and wishes are considered when decisions are being made relating to your care, living arrangements and medical treatment.

They can help you understand and explore all your options, provide information, attend meetings with you, and support your involvement in the decision-making process.

Worcestershire County Council are legally required to offer help to eligible people through advocacy services.

The Council commissions an independent advocacy service through the provider ONSIDE Advocacy. Onside Advocacy is an independent charity, that provides specialist advocacy support to eligible Worcestershire residents, such as Alice, a 59-year-old woman who had a mental health related condition.

ONSIDE Advocacy identified an advocate who was able to provide her support and reduce her worries. Her advocate arranged a face-to-face conversation to inform her of her rights, and also liaised with the staff and nurses at the hospital to resolve any issues, making sure her views were listened to.

Thanks to her advocate, Alice* was more aware and involved in her onward care, improving her self-esteem and confidence.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: "We want all our Worcestershire residents to feel as independent as
possible, knowing that their voice matters. The supporting services provided by an advocate are just one of the things that can help to improve the wellbeing of everyone in our community."

Mick Gillick, ONSIDE Advocacy added: "ONSIDE deliver an advocacy service all year round but once a year the Advocacy Sector comes together to raise awareness of the great thing Advocates do and the difference they have in transforming people's lives and outcomes.
"Not only is Advocacy the 'right thing to do' it's been shown that involving an Advocate at the early stages of a formal process can reduce costs in the long term by ensuring the matters can be resolved before reaching a point where multiple professionals get involved and take decisions that may result in hospital or care home admissions, childcare proceedings, judicial proceedings, etc all of which create long term costs for local authorities and NHS Trusts."

If you don't qualify for the funded advocacy services, there are other ways you can get help. Charity organisations like Speak Easy N.O.W, Our Way Self Advocacy, and Age UK all provide support to help you feel listened to.

If you feel that you, or someone you know would like to learn more about advocacy please visit the Onside Advocacy website.

You can also call 01905 27525, or email [email protected] or write: ONSIDE Independent Advocacy, Williamson House, 14 Charles Street, Worcester, WR1 2AQ.

Further information can also be found on the Advocacy pages of the County Council website.

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