Your Voice Counts Advocacy Services
General Advocacy
General Advocacy is currently available in South Tyneside. Our new General Advocacy service for Gateshead is being introduced on a phased basis and will be available soon.
If you live in Gateshead and are looking for advocacy support, you can still contact us. We can discuss what support you may be entitled to and whether another advocacy service is appropriate.
Who is General Advocacy for?
General Advocacy may be suitable when someone:
-
is facing a specific issue, decision or difficulty
-
would benefit from independent support to understand their options
-
needs help to communicate their views or be heard
-
lives in Gateshead or South Tyneside
-
does not require advocacy under a specific statutory duty.
General Advocacy does not replace Care Act Advocacy, IMCA, IMHA or another statutory advocacy service. If a statutory advocacy duty may apply, we will help identify the appropriate route.
What issues can we help with?
General Advocacy may include support relating to:
-
housing or accommodation
-
health services or treatment
-
adult social care
-
education or training
-
benefits, finances or debt
-
accessing services
-
complaints
-
taking part in the community
-
another specific issue affecting the person.
We will consider what the person wants help with and whether General Advocacy is the appropriate service.
What can an advocate do?
An advocate can:
-
listen to the person’s views and concerns
-
help them access and understand relevant information
-
help them explore their rights and options
-
support them to decide what they want to happen
-
help them prepare for meetings or appointments
-
attend meetings with them
-
help them communicate with services
-
write or speak on their behalf, with their agreement.
An advocate will not:
-
give their personal opinion
-
tell the person what to do
-
make decisions for them
-
provide legal advice
-
judge the person or their choices
-
guarantee a particular outcome.
How long will advocacy support last?
General Advocacy focuses on an agreed issue or outcome. The advocate and the person will agree what they will work on together.
The advocacy case will usually close when the agreed work has been completed or the issue has progressed as far as reasonably possible. The advocate will discuss this with the person.
What areas does the service cover?
Our commissioned General Advocacy service covers South Tyneside and Gateshead. The South Tyneside service is currently available, with the Gateshead service being introduced on a phased basis and becoming available soon.
Local authorities wishing to purchase advocacy support for someone outside these areas can contact us about a possible Spot
Contract Advocacy arrangement. This is subject to agreement, funding and service capacity.
Who can make a referral?
A person can refer themselves or ask someone they trust to help them complete the form.
A relative, supporter or professional can also make a referral for someone else. The referral form asks whether the person knows about the referral and has agreed that YVC may contact them. If their agreement is not yet possible, the referrer should explain why.
How can I make a referral?
If you are seeking General Advocacy in Gateshead, please contact us before submitting a referral while the new service is being introduced.
If completing the form is difficult, call us on 0191 478 6472 or freephone 0300 303 1248. We can discuss what is happening and take the initial referral information by telephone or email when appropriate.
Submitting a referral does not automatically mean that advocacy will be allocated. We will review the information and contact the person - or the person making the referral - to explain the next step.
Further information
-
Visit our Resources page for information about advocacy.
-
For advice about a referral, email mail@yvc.org.uk, call 0191 478 6472 or call freephone 0300 303 1248.