Advocacy for people with learning disabilities

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Information for professionals

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Who can we support?

 

Our General Advocacy service can support adults with learning disabilities who:

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• live in South Tyneside; or

• live elsewhere in the region but receive their social care support from South Tyneside Council, subject to the service arrangements.

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Advocacy can help someone facing a particular issue, challenge or decision. The person must not already be entitled to a statutory advocacy service for the same reason.

 

How can an advocate help?

 

An advocate can help the person:

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• understand their rights and options

• express their views and wishes

• prepare for and take part in meetings

• communicate with services and professionals

• understand information and decisions

• find other sources of help where appropriate.

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General Advocacy is usually issue-based. Support will normally end when the particular issue has been resolved as far as possible or there is no further action the advocate can reasonably take.

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Our advocates also attend some community groups and sessions hosted by partner organisations. These provide opportunities to ask questions and find out whether advocacy may be helpful. Any occasional advocacy drop-ins will be advertised separately.

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Who can make a referral?

 

A person can refer themself. A relative, friend, supporter or professional can also help someone make a referral with their agreement.

People can choose between:

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• the General Advocacy referral form

• an accessible version of the General Advocacy referral form.

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Visit Make a referral to download the required referral form.

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Returning the form for yourself asks Your Voice Counts to contact you about advocacy support. When somebody completes it for another person, the form asks whether that person knows about the referral and has agreed that YVC may contact them.

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Before making a professional referral

Professionals should first consider whether the person may be entitled to statutory advocacy, such as Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy or Independent Mental Health Advocacy.

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Where a statutory right applies, the responsible public body should arrange the appropriate statutory advocacy service. Please contact us if you are unsure which form or service is appropriate.

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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.

 

Further information

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• 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.

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