Local Advocacy Plan 2024 - 2027

Welcome to the first East Dunbartonshire Local Advocacy Plan.

This is a partnership plan between East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), East Dunbartonshire Council, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, and our local and national Advocacy Partners.

East Dunbartonshire HSCP, as a partner within the development and enacting of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Advocacy Strategy has focused on using the aims and objectives contained within that Strategy, to inform a local Advocacy Plan.

The Plan sets out the current advocacy landscape which operates in East Dunbartonshire, recognising third sector organisations who provide informal advocacy as well as the formal registered advocacy services.

This Plan is drafted at a time when further legislation is expected which opens up the advocacy opportunities for more individuals under the legislative umbrella. However, the Plan also recognises the advocacy services offered to those who do not meet the statutory requirements.

The HSCP and our partners recognise the importance of advocacy, and the requirement for its wide availability to children, young people, adults and older people. Advocacy plays a significant part, alongside statutory services, in supporting and safeguarding people who may be at risk, who may be vulnerable and are at risk of not being treated as active citizens with rights in their communities.

The HSCP and its partners recognise that advocacy needs to be available to all who need it and this Plan seeks to establish actions and objectives, for the next three years, which will help to address some of those recognised inadequacies and inequalities within the availability of advocacy services.

Derrick Pearce 
Interim Chief Officer

Councillor Calum Smith
HSCP Board Chair

Access to independent advocacy is recognised as contributing to health policy goals such as health improvement, equity and involving individuals as partners in mutual health and care services. (Better Health, Better Care: An Action Plan (2007). East Dunbartonshire Council and the HSCP have statutory responsibilities, under a range of legislation affecting both children and adults, for example the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, to provide access to independent advocacy for specific groups of people.

This is East Dunbartonshire HSCP’s first local Advocacy Plan, developed in collaboration with local and national Advocacy Partners. It builds on the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Joint Advocacy Strategy 2023 – 2026 bringing Board wide aims and objectives into the local arena.

The Plan covers all customers groups, Children, Young People, Adults and Older People. Some groups and individuals require the provision of independent advocacy through statutory responsibilities, whilst others require advocacy of a more informal nature to support their right to citizenship within the local communities including the right to independent living.

The statutory responsibility to provide access to independent advocacy for specific groups of people, is defined in the principal legislation, the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Section 259 of this Act states that:

“Every person with a mental disorder shall have a right of access to independent advocacy; and accordingly, it is the duty of each Health Board in collaboration with each relevant local authority to secure the availability to persons in its area who have a mental disorder, of independent advocacy services and to take appropriate steps to ensure that those persons have the opportunity of making use of those services.”

The Act defines mental disorder as any mental illness, personality disorder or learning disability however caused or manifested so people with dementia and acquired brain injury are also covered by the Act.

The Scottish Mental Health Law Review (SMHLR) was commissioned in 2019 to consider ways to better realize and protect human rights through mental health, incapacity, and adult support and protection legislation in Scotland.

The independent review made more than 200 recommendations.

Scottish Mental Health Law Review on the Government website.

East Dunbartonshire Children and Families Services have access to independent advocacy provision from Who Cares? Scotland and Partners in Advocacy. There are currently 117 children who would be eligible for the services from Who Cares? Scotland and approximately 70 children involved in the Children’s Hearings System who would be eligible for independent advocacy support from Partners in Advocacy.

This Plan explores and defines the actions required to ensure that East Dunbartonshire HSCP continues to meet its statutory responsibilities for the provision of independent advocacy services, as well as identifying actions that, if resourced, would enhance access for those who do not meet legislative requirements.

The aim of this Plan is to ensure that the HSCP in partnership with local Advocacy Partners deliver locally tailored actions which in turn contribute to the delivery of effective independent advocacy services in East Dunbartonshire.

The financial climate both locally and nationally presents significant challenges for all partners involved in improving advocacy outcomes for individuals. The financial situation means that there is additional pressure to ensure that the identified local priorities are based on evidencing the demand for advocacy services and on the effectiveness of its provision.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Joint Advocacy Strategy highlighted a number of actions that each HSCP have to consider within their Planning Frameworks:

• Have distinct mechanisms for service users, and carers, to be involved in service redesign and review, taking cognisance of conflicts of interests
• Allocate resources in line with care group and population
• Ensure all service users have appropriate access to high quality information on how to access an appropriate independent advocacy service
• Ensure that staff are appropriately trained to recognise the need to refer an individual to an independent advocacy service.

and commit to:

• Ensuring that all statutory staff and other professionals have an understanding of advocacy
• Reviewing continued funding and sustainability of independent advocacy services
• Ensuring that all services are fully aware of the advocacy services available in their area, for example, social media, website, etc
• Ensure in partnership with advocacy providers that information leaflets and promotional material is widely available within their HSCP area
• In partnership with advocacy providers and other agencies, and subject to available resource, continue to provide training and education opportunities to HSCP staff, to promote the use of independent advocacy services including the use of multi-agency training.

The legislative basis for the provision of local advocacy services includes:

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

which states that “every person with a mental disorder shall have a right of access to independent advocacy”. The Act uses “mental disorder” to refer to any mental illness, personality disorder or learning disability.

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

The Council must “have regard to the importance of the provision” of independent advocacy for adults at risk of harm.

n.b: No legal statutory requirement to provide independent advocacy under the Adult Support and Protection legislation however it is recognised the important role that advocacy has in the multi-agency approach to protecting vulnerable adults.

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

A sheriff at a hearing must “take account of the wishes and feelings of the adult…so far as they are expressed by a person providing independent advocacy”.

n.b: No legal statutory requirement to provide independent advocacy under the AWI legislation however it is recognised the important role that advocacy has in the multi-agency approach to protecting adults who lack capacity.

Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011

Includes a requirement that the Patient, Advice and Support Service can direct patients to various types of support, including any advocacy services.

Children (Scotland) Act 1995

States that children under the age of 18 are entitled to have an advocate or other representative present at a Children’s Hearing.

Children’s Hearing (Scotland) Act 2011

States that the chairing member of a children’s hearing must inform the child of the availability of children’s advocacy services.

UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024

The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 comes into force on 16th July, and is “the most complete statement of children’s rights ever produced and is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty in history”.

Incorporation will bring a legal basis for means of redress when children’s rights are infringed, ignored or violated.

It is important to consider how children and young people are not only aware of their rights, but also how to exercise them. For those who feel, or are, unable to use their rights, access to independent advocacy is best placed to provide support in a range of situations, and help to secure legal advice and representation. We have yet to see the impact of incorporation, and there will be additional reporting responsibilities placed on public authorities. Statutory guidance will be published. https://www.gov.scot/publications/statutory- guidance-part-2-uncrc-incorporation-scotland-act-2024/

In terms of commissioning, and within the spirit of the new UNCRC Act, it could be argued that any child or young person should be able to access independent advocacy services to realise their Article 12 right to be heard, in more holistic terms rather than the tight eligibility criteria that many independent advocacy services have to follow in accordance with Scottish Government and other funders’ requirements.

Developments in legislation with legal advocacy requirements:

Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024

This legislation received Royal Assent on 10th June 2024.

“The Act contains a series of measures to improve children and young people’s experiences of the care and justice systems. Very significantly it will allow all children (now clearly recognised as anyone under 18) to access the Children’s Hearings System if they require it. Anyone under the age of 18 will be able to be referred to the Children’s Reporter for any ground of referral.

The change will also ensure children and young people are kept out of prison, ending the placement of under 18s in Young Offenders institutions, with secure accommodation being the normal place of detention instead. The Act also provides new reforms to support victims, including providing a clearer understanding of their right to request information from the Children’s Reporter and a new single point service for victims in the Children’s Hearings System. The changes will also strengthen referral arrangements between courts and Children’s Hearings”. (Scottish Government, 2024).

For those 16- and 17-year-old routed through the Children’s Hearings system, they will be able to access advocacy through the national provision.

Children (Scotland) Act 2014

At the time of writing this Plan, no enactment date had been confirmed. If additional provisions, within this legislation, are enforced, children and young people going to child welfare hearings will have the right of advocacy. No information has been provided by the Scottish Government as to how this advocacy resource will be funded if enacted.

Independent advocacy is about speaking up for, and standing alongside individuals or groups, and not being influenced by the views of others.

Fundamentally it is about everyone having the right to a voice: addressing barriers and imbalances of power, and ensuring that an individual’s human rights are recognised, respected, and secured. (Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA 2023).

The Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2003 defines independent advocacy and states that advocacy is independent if it is not provided by any of the following:

• The relevant local authority
• The relevant Health Board
• Any members of the above e. employees
• Any person providing direct health or social care services to the person who is to be provided with advocacy on behalf of any of the above (including independent or voluntary sector organisations providing such services on behalf of the statutory body).

East Dunbartonshire HSCP and East Dunbartonshire Council have a legal duty under a range of legislative acts to ensure the availability of independent advocacy in their local areas. This duty applies to children and young people as well as adults. It also applies to people living in the community and in hospital and prison settings. Access to Independent Advocacy is not merely for individuals subject to detention under the Mental Health act.

An independent advocacy service is based on the following principles, developed and agreed by the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA):

• Principle 1: Independent advocacy is loyal to the people it supports and stands by their views and wishes
• Principle 2: Independent advocacy ensures people’s voices are listened to and their views taken into account
• Principle 3: Independent advocacy stands up to injustice, discrimination and disempowerment.

There are a number of ways that independent advocacy can be arranged and provided to individuals and groups. These include:

Professional Advocacy – professional advocacy is provided on a one-to- one basis by either paid or volunteer advocates. The advocate provides an individual with information and support on a specific issue so the support can be either short or long term.

Volunteer Advocacy – Volunteer advocates are members of the public who volunteer to provide support to an individual in the community on a one to one, long term basis. Advocacy organisations provide training and support to enable volunteer advocates to carry out this role.

Group or Collective Advocacy – Group or collective advocacy is where a group of individuals are facing a common problem and come together to support each other over specific issues.

Research produced by the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) which focused on the impact of independent advocacy on the lives of people experiencing mental illness ‘Advocacy Changed My Life’ states:

“Apart from delivering better outcomes for advocacy partners by providing some practical help, our second finding is that advocacy also delivered many “soft outcomes”. The soft outcomes could sometimes be tied to the practical support, the most prominent being that the practical support helped alleviate stress, which in turn led to improved mental health. Other soft outcomes ranged from feeling emotionally supported and listened to, to advocacy support leading to ‘a turning point in life’. In several cases receiving advocacy support eventually led to advocacy partners feeling more able to advocate for themselves”. Visit the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance website.

Ceartas has provided Independent Advocacy across East Dunbartonshire since 2004. Ceartas provides advocacy support to people from a number of client groups and whilst mental health illness is one of those priority groups, there is no expectation that the client requires to have a mental health illness diagnosis. This recognises that mental health can be impacted by many external factors.

Ceartas will give priority to legislative cases (as per the legislation identified earlier in the Plan), they also provide non-legislative independent advocacy support. This could include: accessing local services and supports; supporting during review meetings; housing issues; support to attend meetings etc). The demand for legislative advocacy support means that there is less priority given to those of a non-legislative nature. There is an increasing demand for advocacy services to support individuals as they strive to access services and supports. Increased demands for advocacy support within Ceartas means that the organisation is limited in the development of their services, for example collective work, supporting young people to transition to adult services, development and widening of advocacy support availability across vulnerable client groups.

Ceartas provides a holistic service for individuals that they support, providing consistency across multiple issues as well as a person-centre approach to signposting to other agencies, for example, supporting people to attend and engage with Citizens Advice Bureau, legal and medical appointments).

Ceartas can also support young people (16+) with ASN going through transitions, but for many young people, the transition period starts at around 14 and there is a requirement for an advocacy service which can support the young person from earlier on in the process.

Ceartas run peer support groups which enable people to find out more about and/or access independent advocacy out with a period of crisis. Peer support removes the need for professional gatekeepers to the service and encourages individuals to maintain a connection with Ceartas when their advocacy issue has come to an end. This also means that should another advocacy issue arise; individuals are able to access further support from the advocacy service via the peer group facilitator.

Ceartas also offers collective advocacy for example, working with the Allander Resource Centre’s clients, families and staff, supporting them to develop a ‘Have Your Say’ booklet, and more recently exploring partnership working with the Community Mental Health Team to establish collective work around Advance Statements and providing advocacy support to older people from the Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BAME) within the Day Centre Service.

Partners in Advocacy (PiA) was established as an independent charity in 1998. Formerly part of Barnardo’s, PiA recognised the importance of providing advocacy that was financially, structurally, and psychologically independent of other service provision. As such, we became a separate charity and a company limited by guarantee, and full members of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, adopting their Principles, Standards and Code of Practice to deliver quality independent advocacy to a range of individuals and groups. PiA delivers independent advocacy to children and young people across Scotland, adult services in Edinburgh and the Lothians, and advocacy for unpaid carers and individuals with substance use issues in the Highlands.

NATIONWIDE:

My Rights, My Say Partners in Advocacy provides independent advocacy to children aged 12-15 with any additional support needs in education to exercise their rights under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Scotland Act 2004 (as amended). Our advocacy workers support children to have their views heard and rights upheld, including attending meetings with them in school to convey their views regarding their additional support needs, requesting assessments where required, supporting eligible children to request a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP), supporting them at ASN Tribunals if necessary, and helping them to access dispute resolution mechanisms (Independent Adjudication). The advocacy support provided to those who are 12 to 15 years of age requires the young person to have capacity to use this support service, and there be no negative impact on their wellbeing. Partners in Advocacy works in partnership with Cairn Legal, Children in Scotland and the Enquire service.

My Rights, My Say is funded by Scottish Government. Visit the My Rights, My Say website.

SEVEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE:

Children’s Hearings Partners in Advocacy is funded by Scottish Government to deliver independent advocacy as Primary Provider in Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Inverclyde, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire to children and young people (5- 18) going through the Children’s Hearings System for a range of reasons, including school non-attendance, child protection issues including abuse and neglect, offending behaviour and other additional support needs. Our service supports children and young people to understand the grounds for referral to a hearing, helps them to prepare for and participate in their hearing, should they so wish, and ensures that their views are heard by decision makers, upholding their rights, and helping them access legal advice and representation when required. Partners in Advocacy’s contract with Scottish Government dictates that all advocacy providers within the National Providers Network (NPN) operate within the 3 ‘C’s approach:

• Consistency (of the advocacy service utilised by that individual)
• Choice (of advocacy service by that individual)
• Conflict (does the advocacy service represent another person e. sibling).

The alternate provider for Children’s Hearings Advocacy in East Dunbartonshire is Who Cares? Scotland. Visit the Hearings Advocacy website.

STATUTORY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY:

Mental Health Project – Funded by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Provides independent advocacy support for children and young people up to age 18, who are inpatients in Skye House adolescent inpatient

psychiatric unit, and Ward 4 children’s psychiatric unit of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for under 12s. These children and young people are subject to the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Our advocacy workers inform them of their right to independent advocacy, and support them to access legal advice and representation, have their views heard whilst in hospital, contribute to their own inpatient care plans, and to help them to prepare for and attend Mental Health Tribunals and other formal meetings.

The service acknowledges that raising awareness about their advocacy support is limited due to the narrow eligibility criteria required to be met in order for Partners in Advocacy to become involved in supporting an individual. The service delivers Children’s Panel member training across all local authority areas, where invited to do so.

There are many children and young people who do not fit the access criteria for these services, e.g. a child with Additional Support Needs and having difficulties at school who cannot access independent advocacy due to the age criteria (age 12 to 15 with ASN in education only).

Children with mental health issues and not subject to statutory mental health legislation no longer have access to independent advocacy (under a previous contract (ended 2020), NHS GGC funded PIA to deliver community and statutory mental health independent advocacy across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people.

Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 4200 Care Experienced members. At the heart of our work are the rights of Care Experienced people and the power of their voices to bring about change.

We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland. We provide independent advocacy by working one on one with a young person to help them have a say in what is happening to them. We provide professional, independent advocacy services in most local authority areas in Scotland.

We work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding. We work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise* and secure positive change.

*The Promise – Supporting Scotland to keep its Promise to Care Experience People (link in resources section)

This Plan recognises that whilst East Dunbartonshire HSCP commission locally with dedicated independent advocacy services, there are other organisations and individuals that support service users and carers, in-house to the HSCP and independent, by providing some informal advocacy as part of a wider supporting remit. These include:

Advocacy provision is available for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking children (UASC) through Guardianship Scotland. There are currently 29 UASC within East Dunbartonshire and all have been referred to Guardianship Scotland.

Salvsen Mindroom Centre provides advocacy to neurodivergent children and young people within Scotland aged 0 to 25 years, this could be access within East Dunbartonshire but is not a commissioned service.

Carers Link provide advocacy services to young carers aged 8 to 25 years who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend. Carers Link also provide informal advocacy and peer support to adult carers.

Local Area Co-ordinators (HSCP) advocate for young adults diagnosed with Aspergers or Autism, and Older People, supporting the individual to initiate and maintain community and peer connections.

Other sources of informal advocacy also include: Citizen Advice Bureaus

Information, Advice and Support Services Support Provider Organisations

Carers, Relatives and Friends.

People who live in East Dunbartonshire and have used local advocacy services have told us:

“Ceartas advocacy support has reassured me. If there is something I’m not sure of, the advocacy worker can relay things back to me in terms of what they are trying to explain. Being there with advocacy worker took a weight of my shoulders and made things easier.”

“Life has changed due to Ceartas and wouldn’t have been able to do it without Ceartas. Realized a lot of things were getting said and done and misconstrued – life has completely changed for the better.”

“My anxiety was up but advocacy reassured me and put my anxiety right back down again. If advocacy hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have been able to control actions.“

“I didn’t have the tools to be part of meetings, there was a lot of things that I didn’t understand – advocacy gave me the tools, she gave me back the confidence by asking questions and questioning things. I had put my trust in the Social Work and I didn’t think they would be doing anything wrong but it did actually happen to me that SW didn’t do what they should have done.

Advocacy support gave me confidence to question things and taught me to take notes. Advocacy reminded me that I am my wee boy’s mum – prior to advocacy, I felt that I wasn’t worthy to question professionals but Ceartas gave me that confidence. Ceartas has transformed my life – I wouldn’t have known half the stuff if it wasn’t for advocacy researching things and knowing things. It opened doors to me where I could question situations and not feel as if I was being cheeky or feel that I didn’t have the right to ask questions. It gave me the confidence to carry on – my situation has been remedied and fixed – it was a battle but that battle would still be going on if it wasn’t for advocacy.”

“When people talk about my situation and how far I have come, I always talk about Ceartas and advocacy and the difference it made to my life. I wouldn’t have got to this same place if it wasn’t for advocacy. I got legal advice as well but wouldn’t have known that I could have accessed that legal advice if it wasn’t for advocacy. I was ready to give up the fight which is why it was invaluable that I was referred to Ceartas”

Children and young people

"This is a new beginning. I am relieved the school has done something now. Thank you, I appreciate it loads”

“Having an advocate changed my life and helped me find my voice. Thank you for all your help”

“I can’t believe you really said what I said! I felt braver knowing you were with me”

“It was really nice to have someone to talk to about the problems. Explained everything to me in simpler ways”

Parents and carers

“I am so surprised that he engaged with you so well” (Parent)

“Just to say a big thank you for being so caring and understanding – your approach with the children was amazing” (Foster Carer)

Professionals

“The children’s faces lit up when I told them that their advocacy worker was here to see them” (Teacher)

“The children are genuinely excited when they have calls with you (advocacy worker).” (Social Worker)

“Advocacy really helped me. I was so quiet and couldn’t speak at meetings. My advocate spoke for me and then everyone knew what I wanted to happened. I am now really confident at speaking at my meetings and can speak up for myself.” – Young Person

“Everything is perfectly written and exactly what I would like to be passed on. So, thank you for listening to my views and passing them on so that my voice is being heard” – Young Person

“I just wanted to send you a personal mail to say thanks very much for making clear [young person] views…We are really pleased that this got resolved and thanks again for all your help and support” – Parent

During the development of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Joint Advocacy Strategy, service user, carer and stakeholder feedback identified a number of advocacy service gaps. Local independent advocacy partners provided further detailed evidence and explanation for the local gaps:

Non-Legislative

Providing support to vulnerable children, young people and adults living in the local communities who do not meet the legislative eligibility criteria for advocacy support. This could involve advocating for the individual as they strive to access local services and supports to meet their needs and outcomes.

Transitions

Supporting young people, at the latest from age 14 (many children with ASN require enhanced transition planning), to navigate the transitions process, from leaving school, into adult services.

This can include the exploration of capacity and required legal powers, and exploring adult services eligibility and fair access to community care services policies.

LGBTQ+

Whilst the people within these communities meet the service criteria for one or more of the local advocacy partners, there is a lack of resources to undertake a targeted approach to raise awareness.

BAME

Similar to the LGBTQ+ community, the individuals from the local BAME communities also meet the service criteria for one or more of the local advocacy partners but resources are required to raise awareness within these communities.

People living with or in recovery from addiction

People within this category are currently supported by the local independent advocacy service, Ceartas. However, following the implementation of the MAT (medication assisted treatment) standards and its rollout, consideration will need to be given as to how to meet those standards through local collaborative approaches including peer support.

Children and Young People

There are a number of areas within the remit of Children and Young People where there are identified advocacy gaps:

Children and Young People with Additional Support Needs (including those in Education and Home Schooled). Importantly, there is no access for those who are unable to communicate their views and where non-instructed advocacy could benefit.

Children and Young People with Additional Support Needs (apart from MRMS provision age 12 to 15 but only education).

Children and Young People with Mental Health illness living in the community. This could include individuals who are actively engaging with or are on the waiting list for CAMHS. (Only those Children and Young People detained in hospital currently have access to independent advocacy in East Dunbartonshire).

Children and Young People going through Child Protection issues and process. During the month of April 2024, there were 53 children involved in child protection processes who would not have had access to independent advocacy provision.

Children and Young People affected by ACEs, trauma, youth justice, substance use (their own or others), housing, benefits.

Children aged under 5 years old. (The provision to meet the service user’s advocacy needs within this category is currently under exploration).

Children who are non-care experienced.

Children who fall out with the remit of Who Cares? Scotland and Children’s Hearing Advocacy Services.

Children and young people who are home schooled. In East Dunbartonshire there are approximately 45 to 60 active young people, registered with the local authority, as home schooled who are not eligible for any advocacy services. This does not account for the number of young people who are home schooled but are not known to the local authority. It is not a legal requirement to advise the local authority that you are home schooling your child. Educational support for learning advocacy also excludes those children and young people who are home schooled.

Children and young people from LGBTQ+ communities. (The provision to meet the service user’s advocacy needs within the LGBTQ+ community is currently under exploration).

Children and young people who do not meet the statutory requirement for advocacy services.

During the month of April there were 290 children and young people who would not have met the statutory requirement for advocacy.

Care Homes

Supporting individuals and their families navigating the processes involved in being admitted to long term care and/or during the review of care home placements.

Prisoners

East Dunbartonshire is an authority area which houses a state prison (Low Moss Prison).

Whilst many of the prisoners meet the eligibility criteria to access advocacy support from the local advocacy service, this is impacted by funding and required collaboration/partnership working with the national Prison Service.

Asylum Seekers

Whilst the people within these communities meet the service criteria for one or more of the local advocacy partners there may be several factors contributing to lack of uptake of advocacy services including: lack of resources for targeted awareness raising, social invisibility, cultural barriers, stigma, stereotyping and small group size.

Young people remain eligible for support from Guardianship Scotland until three months after they have, either been granted leave to remain, or have received conclusive grounds trafficking decision and are over 18.

People with Sensory Impairments

Whilst the people within this categorisation meet the service criteria for one or more of the local advocacy partners lack of resources for targeted awareness raising and access to interpreting services creates barriers.

Carers

Whilst informal advocacy is provided from a number of different sources including local Carers’ Centres, those sources are funded to provide other support activities for Carers including information, advice, support, peer support etc.

There are no formally established advocacy services dedicated to unpaid carers. Whilst carers can access a local advocacy service, a conflict of interest could arise if that same advocacy service is asked to support the cared for person.

Mental Health

Adults with mental health illness who are not subject to statutory legislation.

Training

Local advocacy partners report the following training gaps within their own organisations:

Ceartas: Opportunities to shadow HSCP and other partners to enhance knowledge and understanding of local practice and processes; trauma informed training.

Partners in Advocacy: Out with the Children’s Hearings Advocacy provision, Partners in Advocacy does not input to East Dunbartonshire HSCP training.

Despite there being a large number of children who are not eligible for existing independent advocacy services, it is clear from recent audits that children’s views are still being sought by the relevant adults in the team around the child. This includes, but is not limited to: social workers, foster carers, teachers, family support workers and health staff.

In order to ensure that people living in East Dunbartonshire, and those working within the health, social work and social care services understand the role of independent advocacy it is important that the local Advocacy Plan recognises the developmental activities that are required to be explored to raise awareness:

• Embedding independent advocacy as part of the local HSCP induction
• Developmental opportunities offered via shadowing opportunities between advocacy and the HSCP
• Inclusion of independent advocacy in multi-agency training calendars/lunchtime learning sessions for frontline practitioners
• Rolling programme of awareness raising sessions across HSCP teams
• Increased variety of communication methods including social media, website, newsletters etc
• Advocacy Plan links to other key strategies.

It also has to be recognised, from a funding and commitment viewpoint, that any raising awareness activities leads to increased demands on advocacy services.

There are a number of challenges which require focus if these gaps are to be addressed and access to independent advocacy provided for all relevant care groups. East Dunbartonshire has an ageing population, above the Scottish average, which will increase the number of people living with a long-term condition and/or dementia. In addition, there are increasing demands for community-based services for people with complex and high-level needs. All the gaps highlighted suggest an increased requirement for advocacy services.

The financial climate presents a considerable challenge for all involved in improving outcomes for individuals. The financial situation makes it important that our priorities are based on evidencing the demand for independent advocacy services and on the effectiveness of advocacy service provision.

In order to address these challenges, and during the development of the local Advocacy Plan, the following development areas have been identified, however consideration of available resources – staffing and funding means that not all may be enacted:

• Involve service users, carers, and other stakeholders including voluntary organisations in service redesign
• Allocate resources in line with care group and population
• Ensure all service users have appropriate access to high quality information on how to access an appropriate advocacy service
• Training by advocacy providers to HSCP staff on how to explain the offer of advocacy to service users
• Ensure that staff are appropriately trained to recognise the need to refer an individual to an advocacy service
• Explore funding dedicated to supporting collective advocacy including lived experience groups
• Stakeholders have an understanding of advocacy outcomes in line with SSIA National Outcomes
• Identification of dedicated advocacy services for
• Raising awareness with HSCP workforce, social care providers and services about the role (and limitations) of advocacy support
• Development of collective work providing ready-made focused groups of individuals with lived experience
• The use of established focus groups (of those with lived experience) to participate in consultation and stakeholder engagement activities
• Explore the possibility of developing of an annual ‘advocacy conversation café’ to promote wider engagement.

As an interim measure, proposals are being advanced to upskill the children and family’s workforce within the HSCP in advocacy and children’s rights.

Each children and family team within the HSCP Social Work Service will have access to a Social Work Senior Practitioner who would be a designated in- house advocacy champion to potentially support children and young people within another team. The aim of this measure would be to ensure that all children within East Dunbartonshire who are involved with social work services have access to a number of competent and trained workers who are able to express their views and champion their rights, acknowledging that further work is required to develop independent advocacy for children and young people.

The Plan identifies actions and consider exploration, dependent upon resources, for further developments in the local delivery of advocacy services. However, the Plan also has to ensure that cognisance is taken as to how success will be measured.

• A robust monitoring and evaluation process which aligns with the outcomes of independent advocacy and the principles and standards of SIAA
• Recognition of the importance of qualitative
• Enhanced recording
• Service user.

It is recommended that contracts are put in place, following due tender process, with advocacy providers to agree the level and standard of service to be provided. The contracts should be developed in line with the Guide for Commissioners, produced by the Scottish Government and reflect funding sources and contract monitoring system designed for advocacy report, in order to ensure that they reflect the current client groups and activities.

Commissioned arrangements will reflect that advocacy organisations must be members of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) and adhere to the principles and comply with the standards set, by the SIAA, for independent advocacy.

• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA)

• Independent Advocacy Principles, Standards & Code of Best Practice (SIAA)

• Toolkit for Demonstrating the Impact of Independent Advocacy (SIAA)

• Independent Advocacy: A Guide for Commissioners

• The Right to Advocacy – Mental Welfare Commission

• Statutory guidance on Part 2 of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024
  
  
• The Promise

If you would like additional information or clarification on the content of this Advocacy Plan please contact:

East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership Kirkintilloch Health and Care Centre

10 Saramago Street
Kirkintilloch
G66 3BF

Tel: 0141 777 3000

Email: customerservices@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Other Formats & Translations

This document can be provided in large print, Braille or on CD and can be translated into other community languages. Please email the Council’s Communications Team at corpcommunications@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or call on 0300 123 4510.

Please contact the Council’s Corporate Communications Team at:

East Dunbartonshire Council
Southbank Marina
12 Strathkelvin Place Kirkintilloch
G66 1TJ

Action number: C1

Action: Undertake a review of the current advocacy contracting arrangements within East Dunbartonshire HSCP.

Responsible: Gillian Healey, Service Manager, Strategic Commissioning Team, EDC; David Aitken, Head of Adult Services, HSCP

Timescale: March 2025

Action number: T11

• Action: Input from local advocacy partners at quarterly services development days hosted by Children and Families Social Work Teams. This will ensure that staff are aware of current advocacy providers within the area and feel confident sharing this information with families.
• Responsible: Lead Officer, Child Protection, Children and Families Services, HSCP
• Timescale: December 2024
• Update: Who Cares? Scotland have participated in the recent development day. Partners in Advocacy will participate in the next scheduled development day.

Action number: T12

• Action: Social Work and Health Teams to consider ‘Advocacy’ topic as a standing business agenda item for team meetings. To help build knowledge and confidence among HSCP Teams about the role of independent advocacy
• Responsible: HSCP Social Work Teams
• Timescale: September 2024
• Update: To be discussed at the Team Managers meeting scheduled for 19 September 2024.

Action number: T13

• Action: Addition of ‘Advocacy’ topic as a standing agenda item for Mental Health Officer Forums
• Responsible: Mental Health Lead Officer and Team Manager, Social Work Mental Health Team
• Timescale: September 2024.

Action number: T14

• Action: Develop a dedicated Advocacy web page on East
  Dunbartonshire Council’s website.
• Responsible: Lead Officer, Child Protection
• Timescale: December 2024.

Action number: TI5

• Action: In order to meet interim measure proposals, a test of change will be established to support Senior Practitioners to adopt an Advocacy Champion role whilst further work is undertaken to develop independent advocacy for children and young people.
• Responsible: Children and Families
• Timescale: March 2026
• Update: Scoping exercise to be undertaken to identify training resources.

Action number: T16

• Action: The Children with Disabilities Team will take part in Talking Mats training which will allow the team to ensure children with communication difficulties are also able to express their views/have their voices heard
• Responsible: Children with Disabilities Team
• Timescale: March 2026.

Action number: T17

• Action: Build knowledge and confidence amongst Advocacy Partners about the role of Social Work and Health Services with respect to working in partnership with Advocacy Services. This will include the HSCP identifying an Advocacy Champion who can support building knowledge across all stakeholders
• Responsible: HSCP identified Advocacy Champion; Advocacy partners; Social Work and Health Service and Team Managers
• Timescale: Throughout length of Plan.

Action number: T18

• Action: Review existing advocacy information resources and co- produce easy read information leaflets, for all stakeholders, across all advocacy services
• Responsible: Advocacy Partners
• Timescale: December 2024.

Action number: T19

• Action: Develop video link training sessions about the role of advocacy for use during HSCP staff induction activities
• Responsible: Advocacy Partners
• Timescale: December 2024.

Action number: T10

• Action: A video presentation will be made available to Children and Families SW practitioners which describes
• Responsible: Children and Families Partners in Advocacy
• Timescale: March 2025.

Action number: T11

• Action: Deliver Advocacy Plan presentation to HSCP
• Responsible: David Aitken, Head of Adult Services; Kelly Gainty, SDS Lead Officer
• Timescale: December 2024.

Action number: T12

• Action: Explore the viability of establishing an Annual Advocacy Conversation Café within East Dunbartonshire
• Responsible: HSCP Advocacy Champion; Advocacy Partners
• Timescale: March 2025, and thereafter throughout the length of the Plan.

Action number: APG1

• Action: Review membership of Advocacy Planning Group (Delivery of Plan)
• Responsible: David Aitken, Head of Adult Services; HSCP Advocacy Champion
• Timescale: September 2024.

Action number: APG2

• Action: Establish Terms of Reference and six-monthly Advocacy Planning Group meetings
• Responsible: HSCP Advocacy Champion
• Timescale: September 2024.

Action number: M1

• Action: Refine recording systems and data on advocacy involvement and attendance at multi-agency meetings made available to the APC
• Responsible: EDC Carefirst Team, EDC Performance and Information Team and Adult Protection Coordinator
• Timescale: December 2024
• Update: Data reports are provided which enable Adult Protection Co-ordinator to better monitor and respond to issues influencing adult participation and partner involvement in decision-making.

Action number: M2

• Action: Define in clear terms for HSCP Teams and Advocacy Partners the information sharing protocol and information expectations, including those relating to legal powers in place for individuals
• Responsible: David Aitken, Head of Adult Services; Kirsty Kennedy, ASP Co-ordinator
• Timescale: December 2024
• Update: This action will utilise the information sharing agreement that is currently in place between the Council/HSCP and Advocacy Services.