Advocacy

You have a right to be involved in decisions made about your care and support, no matter how complex your needs. Independent Care Act Advocacy helps you to be actively involved in the care and support process and make your views, wishes and feelings heard. 

Independent Care Act Advocacy (2014) states that some people are legally entitled to have an independent advocate to support them to understand and take part in making decisions affecting the care, treatment and support they receive, or should be receiving.

An advocate can offer support through the following:

• An assessment or review of care
• CHC assessment or review
• Safeguarding (Section 42 enquiry or safeguarding adult review)

What could an Independent Care Act advocate do for me?

• Your advocate will support you to speak up and be listened to
• They will talk to you privately and they will also support you to communicate with others and at meetings
• Your advocate will support you to understand the assessment processes and help you take control to make choices about your care, treatment and support
• An advocate WILL NOT tell you what to do or force their opinions on you

You may be entitled to an Independent Advocate to support you through your Health and Social Care assessments, support plans, reviews or safeguarding enquiries if:

1. You have / may have difficulty being involved in your assessments, and
2. You do not have anybody else suitable to support you

Difficulties include:

• Understanding relevant information
• Retaining information
• Using or weighing up information – the pros and cons
• Communicating your own views, wishes and feelings

You can make a self-referral or ask a friend or relative to make one on your behalf. We also take referrals from social care professionals.

At My Life Advocacy, we will go above and beyond to support you in whichever way you may need us.

Our advocates work independently from any local authorities or health and social care professionals, so you can be confident that our main focus is to support YOU in the first instance.

Anything you tell us will remain confidential unless we are concerned for your safety.

We can support you by:

• Listening to you
• Being non-judgemental / not making judgements about you
• Providing you with information and guidance / giving you information and guidance
• Genuinely understanding your concerns
• Exploring your options
• Helping you think about outcomes and consequences
• Respecting your decisions
• Helping you to communicate your thoughts, needs and wishes

When can we help?

If you’re ever finding it a challenge to get your voice heard during any tough situations in your life, we can help.

Some of the common times you may find you need someone ‘fighting your corner’ include:

• When you’re using or need access to healthcare or social services
• When you’re not feeling at your most confident
• When you’re facing a life changing decision – maybe on where you’re living or what care you’re receiving
• When you’re coping with personal or family illness, disability of bereavement
• When you need practical support if you have a mental health issue or you’re in emotional distress
• When you need support to feel fully informed and involved in discussions about things such as medical treatment
• When you’re being stopped or prevented from doing something that is important to you
• When you have a communication difficulty and need support to express yourself 

For more information, read our information leaflet here.

Other ways we can support you

We can sometimes help with general Advocacy matters or can advise you how to advocate for yourself or how to advocate on behalf of someone else.

If you need help, advice, or are unsure what support you need, we may be able to signpost you to other services or providers that could help you. 

To refer yourself, or someone you know

Most of our referrals come from the Local Authority, however if you wish to self-refer, simply fill in our online contact form here.

If you would rather speak to us, you can also do a referral over the phone by calling 01257 472900 and pressing option (2). Alternatively, send an email to advocacy@my-life.org.uk and we will get back in touch with you to explain what you need to do. 

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If you do self-refer, please take the time to read our GDPR statement, which explains how we process and store your data. 

If you are a professional wishing to refer an individual

Professionals in the Wigan Borough can refer through Mosaic, or if you prefer, you can download our referral form here.

Should you experience any difficulties with this, please do call us on 01257 472900, option (2) or e-mail advocacy@my-life.org.uk.

Our address

Our Advocacy service is based in the Smithy Court development in Wigan:

No 1 Smithy Court,

Smithy Brook Road,

Wigan,

WN3 6PS.

If you’re thinking of getting an advocate, want to know more about Advocacy, or would like some more sources of help and advice, please click on the links below.

• Independent Advocacy under the Care Act 2014 – further information about Independent Advocacy and the Care Act 2014 
• Understanding Self Advocacy – an explanation of Self Advocacy 
• Our Safeguarding Policy – My Life Advocacy’s Safeguarding policy
• Citizens Advice – free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities
• Samaritans – 24 hour, confidential, emotional support for anyone in crisis
• Turn2Us – financial support
• Age UK – emotional, financial and practical support
• Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh – Healthwatch understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and speak out on their behalf