advocacy quality

quality standards

In order to provide a good quality advocacy service, Asist believes that advocates should keep to a clear set of guidelines. The use of these standards ensures that every user of Asist’s services will receive the same quality advocacy whichever advocate is allocated to them. Advocacy partners and other agencies will then know what they can expect from an advocate trained and supported by Asist.

Principle	Implementation
respect	An advocate will: ask what their partner wants to do, not tell them respect what is important to their partner, listening without making any assumptions or judgements be loyal, honest and trustworthy arrive on time for all meetings and apologise if unavoidably late or absent allow enough time for appointments, not rushing their partner into making decisions respond to their partner’s wishes as soon as possible support their partner to make their own decisions
putting the advocacy partner first	An advocate will: support their partner’s right to strive to live their life the way they choose enable their partner to make their own choices, never being judgmental support their partner to speak for themselves, unless they indicate otherwise treat their partner as an individual treat their partner in a fair and equal way remain loyal to their partner’s views and wishes and respect their individual rights
communication	An advocate will: explore methods of communicating in a way that their partner will understand be creative and resourceful in find meaningful ways to communicate with their partner where appropriate, explore the use of tools for non-instructed advocacy recognise that some advocacy partners may remain silent as a positive statement that they do not want to express a view listen carefully to their partner’s views and check back with their partner to ensure that they have understood them correctly talk to their partner directly (rather than through their carer or support worker) be mindful of cultural, gender and other issues that could affect communication
information	An advocate will: explain the advocacy role to their partner ensure that advocacy partners have access to the organisation’s policies – including the complaints procedure work alongside their partner to gather information which is relevant to the advocacy issue ensure information is shared in accessible formats which have meaning for their advocacy partner seek to ensure that their partner is kept fully informed about the status of their issues at all times
independence	An advocate will: act independently from every other service enable their partner to voice what is important to them or represent their partner’s views and wishes never give advice or their own opinion not pass on any confidential information without their partner's permission (subject to the organisation’s confidentiality policy) ensure that there are no personal conflicts of interest never take sides with other people or agencies against the wishes of their advocacy partner challenge others when they are not listening to or respecting the views of their advocacy partner
working with others	An advocate will: make sure that other agencies/carers are informed of the role of an advocate explain the policy of ‘non-instructed advocacy’ where appropriate administer referrals to organisation’s guidelines arrive on time for all meetings and give apologies if unavoidably late or absent communicate with other agencies where relevant and with instruction from their advocacy partner encourage all involved to communicate directly with the partner, ensuring the advocate is kept informed of all communication relating to the advocacy issue