Advocacy
The Carers Advocacy Project
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy offers a voice to carers in the Renfrewshire area
Carers often find that they need to spend so much time in their caring role that they do not have any time left for themselves. Carers can often find it difficult to have their voice heard by others and this can leave them in a situation where their needs are not taken into account.
An Advocate can act as an extra voice for the carer or can offer support to enable the carer to speak for themselves about their needs and wishes. The advocates listens, clarify information and helps carers know their rights. The advocate will respect carers' wishes at all times when representing them.
The advocate can assist the carers in the followng ways:
- Help write letters and make telephone calls
- Attend meetings with the carer
- Work with the carer to find options and solutions
- Take carer complaints forward
- Help with housing issues
- Access Social Work Services
- Help with Carers Self Assessment
- Education issues
What sort of issues can the Advocacy Service help with?
A carer may want to now about how to go about accessing social work or health, housing or education services. The carer may want to know more about their rights or how to access medical records. Or they may wish to take a complaint forward about a service they have received.
Who Can Receive The Service?
Any carer over the age of 18 living in Renfrewshire is eligible.
The Advocacy Process
The Advocacy service at the Carers Centre focuses on helping carers tackle practical problems and during the first Advocacy meeting, the carer will be asked to talk about the problem or problems they are experienceing.
It is not unusual for a carer to face many issues in their caring role and the Advocacy process prioritises these issues deals with them one by one, usually over a number of weeks.
Who Will Be My Advocate?
Renfrewshire Carers Centre recruits, trains and screens all of the Carer Advocates. Some are paid members of staff and some are volunteers who give their time to the Carers Advocacy Project.
Where Can I Meet My Advocate?
You can meet with your advocate in the Carers Centre, in your home or at another mutually suitable venue.
Will The Service Cost Me Anything?
The service is free to all carers so it won't cost you anything. It may even save you time and worry.
Getting In Contact
If you think you need to speak to an Advocate or would like further information about this service, you can contact us on 0141 887 3643. There is sometimes a waiting list in operation when caseloads are high.
