Empowerment
Empowerment is about giving information to people so that they know their rights, supporting people to consider their options and make their own choices and decisions.
This is called informed choice and it means that people can have a voice. It is important that people feel they have been listened to and that they feel they have equal rights. Support can be given in many different ways.
The POhWER Empowerment service works with groups of people who can give support to each other too.
Some examples about how we work with groups to support them is given below. Further real-life stories can be found by clicking on the links on the right of this page
Traffic light cards
In past meetings people have complained about other people speaking too fast and more than one person speaking at a time. Also, when decisions had to be made some people were not able to vote.
A traffic light system can be used to make things easier.
Traffic light system
RED: To stop the meeting / No (when voting)
GREEN: Yes (when voting)
WHITE: To ask a question
YELLOW: Slow down the meeting
Valuing People work
The Empowerment team support the Valuing People Working Group. This group meets every two months and links in with the Hertfordshire Partnership Board. The Hertfordshire Partnership Board reports to the Valuing People support team and to the Government.
Group work
POhWER Advocates are also involved with other group work. Some Advocates support self advocacy groups in Hertfordshire and some support groups in hospitals and elsewhere.
If you would like to know more
If you'd like to know more about our services you might like to take a look at this page: How we can help
or you can simply contact our Advocacy Support Centre which is open from 9am - 5pm Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Friday, and from 9am to 7pm on Thursdays.
Telephone 0300 456 2370.
