ADVOCACY VOLUNTEER

Purpose - To accompany a service user who may lack confidence or require assistance to attend a meeting, and to ensure her views are clearly presented. Then after the meeting to confirm that the service user fully understands the outcome. Advocacy can be one off or can happen over a period of time. Sometimes people need help in communicating with their friends and families and this is also an area where advocacy can be of use.

TasksTo discuss before the meeting/negotiation with the service user requiring advocacy, who is likely to be involved and what is likely to ariseTo encourage the service user to represent herselfPut across the views of the service user and not your own

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

EssentialAn open, gentle, calm and reassuring mannerHave good listening skillsAn ability to gain information sensitivelyHave good verbal communication skills

DesirableExperience in advocacy workCan communicate in a community language and English