Rob Warren Consultancy

1. Rob Warren Consultancy Advocacy with young carers

2. Independent advocacy “Many people in society are disempowered by systems which have a significant effect on almost every aspect of their lives. These are people who are disempowered to such an extent that they are unlikely to be able to fulfil their basic human needs, or demand their basic human rights. A person's initial hopes and dreams can be severely limited by this. Independent Advocacy can help to widen a person's horizons and enable them to become active members of society.” Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance 2007

3. Advocacy with young carers Course aim: A workshop designed to: • Promote understanding of advocacy for young people and its context • Present the core values underpinning advocacy and models or approaches to advocacy • Identify barriers to effective advocacy and conflicts of interest • Share experiences and develop an understanding of the core skills required in providing advocacy.

4. Advocacy? • Literal: -The act of pleading for, supporting or recommending a cause or proposal. • Literal: - To publicly support or suggest an idea, development or way of doing something. • Contextual: - Speaking out for yourself or on behalf others.

5. History Western Model • 500BC Athens • Roman law and politics • Development of political and legal structures in European and Western culture

6. Advocacy roles • Solicitors, barristers • Politicians • Trade unionists • Activists • Campaigners

7. Independent advocacy for vulnerable groups • Developed over the past 25 years from USA and Europe • Development led by campaigning user groups in disability and mental health field • Recognition that others are also at risk • Has grown from just one or two independent organisations

8. Policy and Legislation • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989 (Ratified by the UK Government in 1991) –Recognises children and young people are holders of human rights have a right to participate in decisions which effect them in all aspects of their lives (Article 12). It is apparent that to achieve this meaningfully they need information, support, encouragement to be their own advocate and if necessary have someone to advocate for them. • Children Act 1989 – section 26A (amended in 2002 by insertion of Section 119 of Adoption and Children Act 2002) imposes a duty on local authorities to ensure advocacy services are provided in certain circumstances (e.g. making a complaint). • Disability Discrimination Act 1995 • Data Protection Act 1998 • Human Rights Act 1998

9. What does advocacy mean in the context of young carers?

10. Advocacy “At its broadest, advocacy is the provision of information, explanations, support, simple encouragement to participate, or direct advocacy by way of representation” Getting it Right for Every Child: Big Words Big Tables: Scottish Executive 2006

11. Advocacy is about: • Participating • Having a voice • Speaking out • Empowering • Safeguarding • Enabling • Informing • Making decisions • Rights

12. Advocacy? The main themes of advocacy are: • Safeguarding people who are vulnerable and discriminated against or whom services find difficult to serve. • Empowering people who need a stronger voice by enabling them to express their own needs and make their own decisions. • Enabling people to gain access to information, explore and understand their options, and to make their views and wishes known. • Speaking on behalf of people who are unable to do so for themselves. 'Principles and Standards in Independent Advocacy Organisations and Groups', Advocacy 2000

13. Models of advocacy • Professional Advocacy (also Crisis Advocacy) • Citizen Advocacy • Collective or Group Advocacy • Self Advocacy • Peer Advocacy

14. Professional Advocacy • In this model, advocacy is provided by both paid and unpaid advocates. The aim is to support people to represent their own interests. If this is not possible, the advocate will represent the person's views. • The advocate provides support on specific issues. He or she provides information not advice and will provide short or long term support. Independent professional advocates will support several people at any time.

15. Citizen Advocacy • This model of advocacy encourages ordinary citizens to become more involved with the welfare of those who might need support in their communities. It is based on trust between the person being supported and the advocate. The advocate's loyalty is to the person being supported not to the advocacy project. • The advocate is not paid and is not motivated by personal gain. The advocate will gain the right to be involved with their partner from the personal relationship they have with the person. • The advocate will support their partner using their natural skills and talents rather than by being trained for the role. • The advocacy relationship will be on a 1 to 1 basis and long-term.

16. Collective or Group Advocacy • This is when a group of people who are all facing a common problem who get together to support each other. The individual members of the group may support each other over specific issues. The group as a whole may campaign on an issue that affects them all. • Some of the benefits of group/collective advocacy are: • an issue may arise that is to do with the planning of services and their impact on a group of people. The collective voice can be stronger than that of the individual. Groups are difficult to ignore. • raising a difficult issue can be an isolating experience for someone. The group experience can reduce isolation and provide support.

17. Self Advocacy • Most often refers to group or collective advocacy and is an identified group of individuals made up of users, likely users, or past users of care or support services which are provided by, or on behalf of, local authorities or health boards. • Can also refer to supporting individuals to advocate for themselves; speak up on their own behalf. Providing support and information and enabling them to make choices.

18. Peer Advocacy • Peer Advocacy refers to individuals who share significant life experiences and who support each other to speak out. The peer advocate and their advocacy partner may share age, gender, ethnicity, diagnosis, or issues. • Peer advocates use their own experiences to understand and empathise with their advocacy partner. • Peer Advocacy works to: • Increase self awareness, confidence and  assertiveness so that the individual can speak for themselves.            • Lessen any imbalance of power between the advocate and their advocacy partner.

19. Why might young carers need advocacy?

20. Advocacy with young carers • What sort of issues do young carers face? • What model or models of advocacy would best suit young carers? • What would support advocacy with young carers? • What challenges are there to effective advocacy with young carers?

21. Barriers and Conflicts of Interest • A barrier is something that prevents effective advocacy • A conflict of interest is something that interferes with and undermines effective advocacy

22. Core elements of effective advocacy • Self awareness • Empathy • Listening • Communication • Understanding the context • Information • Confidence and assertiveness

23. Five steps to effective advocacy • Understand the problem or issue • Gather information • Plan • Assertive communication • Review