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Paid advocacy pays!
- Author:
- LANE Jane
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 100, Autumn 2011, pp.41-42.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
The foundation of Advocacy Matters (Wales) (AMW) began in 1989 as a result of the closure of Ely hospital in Cardiff. AMW provided a Citizen Advocacy partnership to patients which involved preparing and training local volunteers to form a long-term partnership to help their ‘partner’ speak up about their rights and communicate what they wanted. This article discusses the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme, a part of AMW which was introduced to give significantly greater protection and support to adults from abuse and inappropriate care. Three case studies are presented which detail the need for paid advocacy in people’s lives, each highlighting the positives that a paid advocate can bring to vulnerable adults living in care.
An evaluation of Prioritise Me
- Authors:
- SPEAKE Beth, GILBERTSON Jan
- Publisher:
- Sheffield Hallam University. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
This short report presents the findings from an evaluation of the Prioritise Me training programme. The aim of the Prioritise Me project was to support vulnerable people who are energy consumers in genuinely creative ways, and to support capacity and understanding for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Prioritise Me aimed to provide accessible and interactive advice and training about energy use and the energy market where understanding was limited; to develop accessible ideas and resources through piloting innovative work with University design and evaluation partners; and to engage people to speak confidently to energy providers, giving maximum impact for vulnerable adults in South Yorkshire. The evaluation indicates that the rationale and initial concept for the project has been validated: the importance and effectiveness of co-production of materials and training in this context has proved itself, and the materials produced have been both innovative and useful. Further, it has been demonstrated that the materials produced by the project have the potential for much wider application, not only for vulnerable groups but for a much wider section of the public, and not only locally but also at a regional level and nationally. (Edited publisher abstract)
Striking the right balance: police experience, perceptions and use of independent support persons during interviews involving people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- HENSHAW Marie, SPIVAK Benjamin, THOMAS Stuart D. M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(2), 2018, pp.e201-e211.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Several jurisdictions mandate the presence of an independent support person during police interviews with vulnerable people. The current study investigated police officers’ experiences and perceptions of these volunteers during interviews with people with intellectual disability(ies) (ID). Methods: The sample comprised 229 police officers who attended a mandatory firearms training course in Melbourne, Australia, in 2010. Results: Participants commonly reported utilising independent support persons and displayed a fair understanding of their role. Overall, volunteers were engaged more frequently than family/friends; police considered the volunteers to be more impartial during interviews, whereas family/friends provided a greater level of emotional support to interviewees. Conclusions: Independent support persons need to demonstrate two quite different types of support to people with intellectual disability(ies) during police interviews; these require quite different skill sets and suggest the need for more tailored training and support for these volunteers. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Decision time
- Author:
- LEASON Katie
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 5.05.05, 2005, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 should ensure that all people are able to make their own choices unless proven otherwise. Looks at the need for professionals to adjust quickly to the new provisions. Also looks at the role of the new independent mental capacity advocates.
Mental Capacity Act 2005: post-legislative scrutiny: report of session 2013–14
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Parliament. House of Lords. Committee on the Mental Health Act 2005
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 143
- Place of publication:
- London
The Committee’s key finding in this evidence-led inquiry is that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is not widely implemented. To address this, the Committee recommends that responsibility for implementing the Act be given to an independent body. The Committee’s second key finding is that the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are not fit for purpose. The Committee recommends that they be replaced with new provisions. This report considers: whether the Act is working as intended in respect of the Act’s five core principles; how to address poor implementation of the Act; advocacy and advance planning; whether the Court of Protection is appropriate (or should there be a Mental Capacity Tribunal instead); and criminal law provisions under Section 44 of the Act. It summarises and refers to cases of unlawful detention under the Act (Steven Neary), and the deprivation of liberty of an autistic man with a profound learning disability, HL at Bournewood Hospital for 32 years. It includes as a good practice example, the work by Jim Blair, a learning disability nurse consultant who explained adjustments made for effective treatment and outcomes for adults with learning disabilities appropriate to their needs. The Committee makes recommendations to Government to: work with regulators and professional bodies to ensure the Act is given a higher profile in training, standard setting and inspections; increase staff resources at the Court of Protection to speed up handling of non-controversial cases; and reconsider the provision of non-means tested legal aid to those who lack capacity, especially in cases of deprivation of liberty. Local authorities should use their discretionary powers to appoint Independent Mental Capacity Advocates more widely than is currently the case. The Government should act on the poor levels of awareness and understanding of Lasting Powers of Attorney and advance decisions to refuse treatment among professionals in the health and social care sectors. The Government should also review the criminal law provision for ill-treatment or neglect of a person lacking capacity, to ensure that the Act is fit for purpose. The Committee recommends that the House of Lords seek an update from the Government twelve months from now to find out what they have done in response to their key recommendations. An easy read version is also available. (Edited publisher abstract)
Intellectual disabilities, violent conflict and humanitarian assistance: advocacy of the forgotten
- Author:
- ROHWERDERA Brigitte
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 28(6), 2013, pp.770-783.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article examines the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities in violent conflict who have been neglected in practice and academia. Such invisibility, combined with the disabling impact of society, their low priority, and the nature of their impairments, results in a disproportionately negative impact of conflict on people with intellectual disabilities. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including humanitarian workers, this article examines their experiences and analyses how much consideration has been given to people with intellectual disabilities in humanitarian assistance policy and practice in light of their increased need and vulnerability. Lack of awareness and recognition of their diverse experiences can result in their needs failing to be adequately met, which compounds their disproportionately negative experience of conflict. It is important to finally start paying attention in order to ensure their inclusion in humanitarian responses. (Publisher abstract)
Knowledge of advocacy options within services for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- MARTINS Claudia Da Silva, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24(3), May 2011, pp.274-279.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service was introduced by the Mental Capacity Act (2005). It provides advocacy services to people aged 16 or over who are assessed as lacking capacity to make a decision and have nobody to represent them. Professionals working in health and social care systems with people with learning disabilities need to have a good understanding and awareness of the IMCA service. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which care managers in learning disability services understand the role of the IMCA service, and the difference between the newly created statutory IMCA and existing general advocacy (GA) services. The study participants were 22 social workers and community nurses from 3 community teams within learning disabilities services. The participants completed a questionnaire based on 9 scenarios where they were asked to identify the appropriate professional to contact and to explain what their role would be. The participants’ understanding of these issues was generally poor. There was a substantially less than 50% correct response rate for identification of scenarios that called for an IMCA referral, and the ability to discriminate between the roles of GA and IMCA was limited. Only around half of the participants correctly identified that the function of advocacy is to represent the client’s views, and a significant minority incorrectly attributed decision-making functions to the IMCA.
Christine Noble's story
- Authors:
- HAMES Annette, NOBLE Christine
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(2), June 2009, pp.145-150.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Christine lives with her three children, Elizabeth, George and Louise. Following the unexpected death of her husband in December 2001, she has been offered practical support into the home, so that she can continue to look after her children. It has been a long struggle, getting the right support package into the home. This article tells Christine's story. Christine's story identifies how communication is vital, particularly when so many organisations are involved. She has been able to express her needs through the help of her advocate and her extended family. Looking back on the service, difficulties have occurred at times when there is communication breakdown. In order to foster good communication within the home, the immediate support group works best with as few people as possible. Everyone's roles and responsibilities need to be clear, and as members of the group change, group members and their managers need to be reminded of these. As Christine has felt that she is more valued, so her skills have grown and improved. This story ends with a list of what seem to have been the vital ingredients of this support package. The authors hope that this information will be helpful to other families and service providers.
Following the IMCA trail
- Author:
- HAYES Derren
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 29.3.07, 2007, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
On the eve of a roll out of the Independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA) service, the author looks back at the development of the service and asks whether it will be up to the task.
Working with the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Authors:
- RICHARDS Steven, MUGHAL Aasya F.
- Publisher:
- Matrix Training Associates
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 44p.
- Place of publication:
- North Waltham
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides for the first time, a statutory framework for assessing whether a person has capacity to make decisions and defines how others can make decisions on their behalf. Its scope is wide-ranging involving decisions regarding personal welfare (care and treatment) and financial affairs. Statutory and non-statutory organisations providing health and social care for people who lack capacity will have to ensure that their policies and procedures comply with the Act from April 2007. This book provides a detailed explanation of the new law and its implications for working practice. It is written in an accessible style and is designed to be of maximum use to health and social care professionals so they feel confident using the Act in daily practice.