Our advocacy service can be commissioned by:

• • Local Authority Departments, such as Social Care and NHS Trusts
  • Medical professionals and social workers
  • Privately owned Mental Health Care organisations
  • Charitable groups
  • Legal bodies

Our service cannot be commissioned by the individual or their families directly.

Advent Advocacy provide a range of advocacy services, each with a different eligibility criteria.  Please refer to our Services page for more information.

Information on the Services Page explains the types of advocacy we have available, individuals eligibility and the corresponding referral forms.  These should be completed and returned to info@adventadvocacy.co.uk

Our lead time for services is dependent on the location, hours and type of advocacy required. This will be discussed as part of the initial response to the enquiry.

All employees with Advent Advocacy are reference checked and have enhanced DBS checks which are renewed regularly, in line with recommended practice.

All our Independent Advocates have a three-month induction program. This includes shadowing, mentoring and supervision. During their first year they will begin the City and Guilds qualification for Independent Advocacy.  Advocates also receive Continuing Professional Development, from either our in-house training team and /or from external providers, covering areas such as legislation, safeguarding, advocacy best practice and health and safety.

Many of our Independent Advocates join Advent Advocacy from the mental health care sector or associated services.  Prior to them starting their role as an advocate they undertake an induction program including shadowing and mentoring, and training on the statutory aspects of the role.  Through careful recruitment and mentoring, all our Independent Advocates demonstrate effective communication strategies, including supporting individuals who are non-verbal and those identified as neurodivergent. Above all, each Independent Advocate demonstrates empathy and integrity to understand the wants and wishes of each person.

With permission from service users, Independent Advocates can access service user information.  When acting in a statutory advocacy role, legislation allows advocates to access records. There are some limited imposed on access rights by legislation, for example the Data Protection Act.

Communication between the Independent Advocate is confidential.  Only when there is a safeguarding risk will the Independent Advocate share information with the appropriate person, usually the safeguarding lead where the individual is residing.

Our Independent Advocate will only share information with care setting managers, staff and/or clinicians if they have been directed to do so by the individual.

Commissioning organisations will receive a detailed report each month and quarter, summarising the impact and outcomes for service users. These reports do not identify individuals.

We maintain records that outline how we have supported clients to have their wants and wishes expressed.  This can be seen by the clients should they request to do so.

We are a nationwide provider and work across the country.

We are available from Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.  Outside of these hours we have a messaging service.  All messages are responded to during the next working day.

Yes – our service is assessed and evaluated by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi), which awarded our accreditation for Advocacy. Advent Advocacy also carries out regular appraisal activities and uses satisfaction data to monitor how we perform.

Advent Advocacy stands structurally and operationally independent from healthcares sites, providers, commissioners, funders and local authorities.  For more information and detail about our independence please read the following document.