Role of Advocacy and Service Referrals
Advocacy seeks to influence social change by enabling those who experience disempowerment to have a direct say in the issues that affect their lives.
POhWER recognises that disempowerment is a general social problem and cannot be confined to specific client groups. POhWER is committed to meeting this problem through its provision of one to one advocacy services.
POhWER recognises that in order to minimise conflicts of interest, advocacy must be delivered independently of statutory and care providing organisations.
Referrals to advocacy
There are two types of referral, self and third party.
Self-referrals are from the clients directly and third party referrals are from anyone with an interest in the client’s welfare. People eligible to make third party referrals can include:
- Care and support staff
- Social care and medical professionals
- Professionals in any other public body
- Elected representatives
- Families
- Friends
- Carers
Referrals can come through a variety of routes including telephone, face to face, letter, email or using the referral option on this website.
