Advocacy Fact Sheet - Feb 2020

Advocacy
Fact Sheet

Empowering parents, carers, children and
young people to make informed choices about
their Education, Health and Care provision
related to their own or their child’s special
educational needs.

0-25 years

Oldham SEND IAS Service
definition of Advocacy

This fact sheet explains the advocacy role of SENDIAS
Services which has been adopted by the Oldham
SENDIAS Service and is designed to support the
expectations of families and young people about the
role, remit and extent of advocacy available to
SENDIAS service users in Oldham.

What is advocacy?

We all know how frustrating it can be when people
aren't listening to us. This can be very difficult to deal
with, especially when you need to communicate often
with education, health and social care professionals.
You might find they don't always offer you all the
opportunities and choices you would like or involve
you fully in decisions about your care.

Advocacy means getting support from another person
to help you express your views and wishes, and help
you stand up for your rights. Someone who helps you
in this way is called your advocate.

What does an advocate do?

The role of an advocate depends on your situation and
the support you want. But they are there to support
your choices.

The checklist on the following pages should support
you in understanding what an advocate can; and
cannot do

An advocate can:

listen to your views and concerns
help you explore your options and rights
(without pressuring you)
provide information to help you make
informed decisions
help you contact relevant people, or contact
them on your behalf
accompany you and support you in meetings
or appointments.

An advocate will not:

give you their personal opinion
solve problems and make decisions for you
make judgements about you.

The support of an advocate is often particularly useful
in meetings when you might not feel confident in
expressing yourself.

They can:

support you to ask all the questions you want
to ask
make sure all the points you want covered are
included in the meeting
explain your options to you without giving
their opinion
help keep you safe during the meeting – for
example, if you find the meeting upsetting,
your advocate can ask for a break until you feel
able to continue.

How to contact us

The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
(answer phone and email are available 24 hours).

Oldham SENDIASS are happy to meet with you at a
time and place that is mutually convenient. The
office site provides disabled access and facilities.

Visit us at your local drop-in or information event
(ring the office or check online for dates and
venues).

Helpline: 0161 503 1540

Office: Chadderton Court
451 Middleton Road
Chadderton
Oldham OL9 9LB

Email: [email protected]

Online: www.point-send.co.uk/oldhamsendiass

Facebook: www.facebook.com/oldhamsendias

Oldham SEND Information, Advice and Support Service is operated by
POINT, registered charity No 1161596 and is supported by the National IASS
Services Network (IASSN) hosted by the Council for Disabled Children.

Issued: February 2020