Citizen Advocate

Citizen Advocates work on a one-to one basis with a vulnerable person. The person may have a learning disability, mental health problem, physical disability or be an older person living in the community or a care home.

Citizen advocacy is about creating a partnership with the aim of getting to know each other, and building trust, so that the volunteer can become an effective advocacy partner. The advocate is loyal to their partner and represents their interests as if they were their own.

Each of the roles will involve some or all of the following:

• Meeting with the person and offering advocacy support
• Helping to identify the advocacy issues
• Agreeing with the person what action is to be taken by the advocate
• Obtaining information for the person about his / her rights and options to enable him / her to make an informed choice
• Practical tasks such as letter writing and making telephone calls
• Supporting the person at reviews, meetings and appointments
• Protecting the person's interests and 'speaking up' on their behalf
• Keeping necessary records
• Attending training and supervision / support meetings with advocacy workers

Skills

• A strong commitment to equal opportunities
• A non-judgmental attitude - tolerance of others' beliefs and lifestyles
• Reliability
• Good 'people skills', both in groups and with individuals
• Good listening and communication skills
• The ability to be loyal to the individual they support and concentrate on their needs - but not to swamp or smother them, i.e. being empathetic
• Understanding the need for confidentiality and commitment

• Self-awareness, including awareness of boundaries and knowing when to seek support