Advocacy Orkney | text version | sitemap | log in
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Who are we? Advocacy Orkney is run by a Board of Directors acting in a voluntary capacity. We are also members of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) an organisation that promotes, supports and defends independent advocacy across Scotland (for more information on the SIAA click here). We have a team of dedicated paid and volunteer staff that work together offering a professional advocacy service, particularly to those people who feel either excluded from or marginalised in society.The team is headed by our Service Manager who manages the advocates and volunteers. Advocacy Orkney is committed to improving service delivery in Orkney and does this through the Service Manager who works in partnership with other services to influence the discussion on issues that can affect the people that use our service. The Specialist Advocacy Worker (MH) specialises in independent advocacy for people with mental health problems, acquired brain injuries or dementia. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 gives people with a ‘mental disorder’ the right to access independent advocacy. In Orkney the Specialist Advocacy Worker will work with people who have been referred to us by the Community Mental Health Team, Mental Health Officers, by other professionals and those who self-refer. This person also facilitates group advocacy for people who may wish to attend Orkney Minds or The Blide Trust. Advocacy Orkney also provide independent advocacy for people with learning disabilities. Once again, people with a learning disability have a right of access to an independent advocacy service. We facilitate a 'users forum' at St Colms Day Centre where adults with learning disabilities can raise any issues they have with the support of our advocates and volunteer advocates. We also faciliate 'user forums' at the West Mainland Day Centre and the Gilbertson Day Centre. Again this gives users the opportunity to raise any issues they have with the care they receive when attending the Day Centre. These groups are informal gatherings and all staff leave the room giving users the chance to speak freely to the advocate and they, in turn, feedback any views to staff to ensure the best possible service is achieved and maintained and an individuals rights are upheld and respected. We also provide generic advocacy support for other members of the community who meet the service criteria. Please contact us should you wish to make a referral. Click on the link for information on the services provided by the Children & Young Persons Advocate. We also rely on Volunteer Advocates, who receive Basic Advocacy Skills Training as well as ongoing specialist training and regular support and supervision to enable them to support people approaching the service for help. Our volunteers are an integral part of the team and dedicated to the provision of independent advocacy in the Orkney community. |
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