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Advocacy
SCA Advocacy delivers around 190 programmes of issue-based advocacy each year. On average at least 92% of our customers receive a positive outcome to their case.
We have been delivering advocacy for 15 years. We have experience of delivering several models of advocacy including issue-based, self-advocacy groups and group advocacy.
Our issue-based advocacy model empowers and enables vulnerable people in our society to find solutions to problems that they have in their lives and speak up for their rights in times of trouble. These problems can be around family, relationships, finance issues, benefits, complaints, adult protection, child protection, bullying, power of attorney, and many many others (see diagram opposite). To see examples of the types of cases we deal with then click here or on the link at the bottom right of this page.
Our Advocates:
Our trained team of professional volunteer advocates come from a wide range of professional work backgrounds, from retired magistrates, social workers, mental health professionals, teachers, housing officers, accountants and a number who have worked in various positions in the community and private sector. All our advocates undergo thorough training and meet strict recruitment checks including CRB checks. In additon our advocates are closely supervised and supported in their work.
Issue-Based Advocacy:
SCA Advocates work on a one-to-one basis with customers, and according to a strict confidentiality policy.
This type of advocacy is available as a free service for older people and adults with a learning disability in Havant and Petersfield (in East Hampshire), funded by Hampshire County Council.
It is also available as a free service in Bournemouth to people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and or sensory impairment, aged between 18 - 65years and funded by Bournemouth Borough Council.
It is also available to purchase directly from SCA through a private agreement or spot purchase agreement. We can deliver advocacy in Bournemouth, Poole, East Dorset, New Forest, Southampton, Eastleigh and across East Hampshire. We also offer a number of other support services through our Wessex Care Decisions project including a watching service for long disance relatives, support with power of attorney applications and support with selecting and purchasing self-funded care.
SCA Advocacy is experienced in working with most service user groups including people with mental health needs, older people, older people with dementia, people with disabilities and younger people.
If you require any further information or feel that advocacy could help you or someone you know then please give us a call:
•Bournemouth Advocacy Co-ordinator - 01202 853242 / laura.metcalfe@scagroup.co.uk
•Hampshire Advocacy & Wessex Care Decisions Co-ordinator - 023 9224 1555 / tristan.mabey@scagroup.co.uk
Self-Advocacy Group:
We have run a user led self-advocacy group for adults with learning disabilties in Havant. This group was funded for one year and helped a number of people gain confidence and make positive social relationships at the same time as learning new skills for dealing with a number of situations including, bullying, hate crime, starting a new job, meeting new people and many others.
Group Advocacy:
We ran a user led group advocacy project for the Future Builders Project in Havant. This project supported four females with severe physical disabilities to move out of residential care and into a shared house. Our advocate supported the new housemates with their transition from living in residential care to their new lives living independently in the community. The housemates had lived in residential care for most of their lives and needed support with communication, learning how to share, consider others' feelings, and identifying and working a written set of house rules.
If you would like to find out more or would like us to provide a similar project where you live then please contact our Advocacy Co-ordinators for Hampshire or Bournemouth on the telephone numbers above.
