Fulcrum Family Services
Facilitating Positive Change
An Independent Advocacy Service
Advocacy means one or more people are getting support from another person to help them express their views or wishes, and to ensure that their voice is heard during decision-making. They may assist in ensuring a person's rights are being respected. The person offering support is called an advocate.
What does an advocate do?
How the advocate can assist a person is entirely client led – they're there to support the choices of the client. For example, they can:
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listen to their views and concerns
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offer information to help the client make informed decisions
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help to explore their options and rights (without advising the client in any particular direction)
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assist in contacting the relevant people, or by contacting identified people, services, or organisations on the behalf of their client
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accompany and support clients in meetings or appointments.
An advocate will not:
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offer their personal opinion
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solve problems and make decisions for the client without direction from their client
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make judgements about their client.
Fulcrum Family Services has had extensive experience offering advocacy to support to vulnerable adults (e.g. those with mental health issues, learning difficulties, and people with disabilities), children, and young people in a variety of settings. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs so we can assist you in finding the best suited person to assist you.
The Director also created the Direct Work with Children and Young People Module on London Coordinators Accreditation Programme (LCAP) in respect to Advocacy for Family Group Conference Accreditation.