Art work from our Services Users describing things that promote their Wellbeing
Code of practice
The Code of Practice provides a set of guidelines and a framework for the advocacy team to work within. It aims to provide clarity, support and boundaries for our day to day practice. We have used the Action for Advocacy Code of Practice (2002) and adapted it to meet our needs.
CLARITY OF PURPOSE:
- Advocates should be clear about the nature and extent of their role and should be able to explain, in straight forward language, what advocacy is and isn’t. The advocacy role will be explained to the advocacy client at the first contact or meeting where it is appropriate.
- Advocates do not work in “best interests”; we will only follow an Instructed or Non Instructed advocacy approach.
- Advocates should not take the role of a counselor, therapist, advice worker or befriender or any other role that is not advocacy. If another organization is better placed to carry out the work we will refer/signpost to other agencies with the client consent.
- Advocates will not make a commitment that they know they cannot uphold or deliver.
INDEPENDENT:
- The Advocacy service is structurally and psychologically independent from all statutory organizations and from all service providers. We will arrange for another advocacy organization to provide advocacy if there is ever a conflict of interest between the advocacy service and Rochdale & District Mind’s other services. The service user will be given the choice.
- The service operates in a contract culture. Where funding is received from the PCT or the Local Authority we will ensure that our independence is explicitly stated in our contracts. Our independence is fundamental and integral to our work.
- Advocates are free to act according to the wishes and needs of service users. They should not be threatened, compromised or harassed whilst carrying out their duties.
EMPOWERMENT:
- The service recognizes that users of mental health services can be disadvantaged by the nature of their distress, by the social stigma and by the controlling nature of some psychiatric interventions.
- We aim to empower people by supporting them to explore their choices and options, to access information and services, to defend their rights and to express their views and concerns. We aim to promote self advocacy through all of our work.
- We will work in partnership with the people we support and will take their side.
USER LED:
- The Advocate will only act with the client’s explicit consent where they have the capacity to instruct. We do not give advice or an opinion and we will only support the client to express their view and their view only.
To support this process we will listen and discuss choices and options, we will provide accurate and up to date information to help the client make informed choices if requested to do so and we will agree a plan of action based on agreed advocacy issues. - We will use a non instructed advocacy approach to try and ensure that the service user remains at the centre of the decision making process, where the client is unable to instruct, due to a lack of capacity around a particular issue or issues.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
- Advocates will be respectful of service user’s religious, cultural and spiritual needs.
- Advocates will be fully conversant with Rochdale & District Mind’s equal opportunities policy.
ANTI DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE:
- The Advocacy scheme recognizes the need to be proactive in tackling all forms of oppression, discrimination and bad practice both internal and external to the service.
ACCESSIBILITY:
- The advocacy service is free. This is a fundamental principle of advocacy.
If an advocate is offered a gift they should refer to the “in-house” policy and act accordingly. - Advocates will meet clients in places and at times which are mutually convenient and in line with our risk procedures.
- Advocates should make every effort to ensure that any information or publicity provided is accessible and as easy to understand as possible.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
- Advocates will operate within the law at all times.
- Advocates will treat clients with respect and dignity at all times.
- Advocates will conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner in all dealings with service users, carers, professionals and colleagues. Where disputes arise the Line Manager must be contacted at the earliest opportunity.
- Advocates are accountable to service users, to the organisation and to the Commissioner’s of the service.
Accurate and up to date written records must be kept of action taken and progress made. - Service users must be kept informed of the progress made around the agreed issues and must be consulted at regular intervals as is appropriate.
- Advocates must comply with the organisations data protection policy.
- At the end of each case service users must be given the opportunity to give feedback about their experience of the service through the offer of an evaluation form both in person when appropriate and by post.
- The Advocate will provide information to service users on how to complain about the advocacy service.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
- Advocates will at all times observe and respect the service users right to confidentiality and will not share information about them without their explicit consent. There are exceptions to this rule – please see below.
- The service is confidential except in situations where it is felt there is an issue of risk or abuse. Where possible this must be discussed with your line manager and the client where appropriate before confidentiality is breached.
- It is important that Advocates explain confidentiality clearly at the first contact or meeting with the client as this sets one of the boundaries for the advocacy partnership.
SUPPORTING ADVOCATES:
- Advocates will be given an induction.
- Advocates should make full use of and contribute to ongoing training and personal development opportunities.
- Advocates will receive monthly supervision and an annual appraisal.
- Peer support is crucial and every team member is expected to contribute to a culture which encourages this.
- Access to counselling.
- Well Being policy
