CAHN's Independent community advocacy service
CAHN’s INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY ADVOCACY SERVICE
An Independent Community Advocacy Service focuses on assisting individuals in accessing services, protecting their rights, and ensuring their voices are heard, particularly when addressing local issues or public services.
Their main objective is to empower individuals and guarantee equitable treatment.
We do not offer legal services directly; however, we are committed to ensuring you receive the support you need. Therefore, we will confidently connect service users with legal firms that can assist effectively.
Key Characteristics of our Service Include
1. Support for Marginalised Groups and Local Focus:
Our services are tailored to the needs of the African and Caribbean people, nevertheless, we also support anyone from any background reaching out for help. We often work to address local concerns, such as access to housing, healthcare, education, social services, or local government services. Community advocacy services often concentrate on helping marginalised and underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, ethnic minorities, persons with mental health challenges, and those living in poverty. These groups often encounter difficulties in accessing essential services and comprehending their legal entitlements.
2. Confidentiality and Trust:
The service prioritises the privacy and confidentiality of the people it assists, establishing a secure environment for them to voice their worries.
3. Impartial and Independent:
The advocates are independent of the organisations the service users belong to or are engaged with, ensuring there is no conflict of interest.
4. Empowerment and Education:
The service aims to educate individuals about their rights and empower them to speak up for themselves. When someone is unable or uncomfortable doing so, advocates will represent their views and interests.
5. Holistic and Person-Centred:
Advocates take a person-centred approach, ensuring that individual preferences and needs are at the forefront of any actions. They work closely with the person to develop strategies or solutions that are in their best interests.
6. Community Engagement:
In addition to individual advocacy, our service engages with broader community initiatives or campaigns to promote social justice, raise awareness about systemic issues, and encourage local authorities to be more inclusive and responsive to the community’s needs.
Overall, our independent community advocacy service is a crucial resource for individuals and groups facing challenges in accessing fair treatment, allowing them to navigate complex systems with support and confidence.
Advocacy and the Social Determinants of Health
Advocacy plays a crucial role in addressing the social determinants of health by tackling the underlying conditions that affect individuals’ health and well-being. The social determinants of health encompass non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, such as socioeconomic status, education, employment, housing, access to healthcare, and the social environment. Through advocacy, both systemic and individual challenges can be addressed to create healthier, more equitable communities.
How are we addressing the social determinants of health?
- Promoting Equity in Health Access
Advocacy ensures that marginalised or vulnerable groups have access to healthcare services.
By addressing barriers such as lack of transportation, unaffordable healthcare, or discriminatory practices, advocates push for equal access to medical care and social services. This may include inadequate adjustments for individual needs, difficulty understanding complex medical information, or being overlooked in treatment planning due to communication challenges. As a result, these people may receive lower-quality care or experience delays in treatment.
CAHN has led a key health literacy session called the Health Hour (CATHIP – CAHN), where members of the public engage with doctors and other health practitioners.
- Addressing Poverty and Economic Inequality
Advocates are dedicated to addressing economic disparities, which are a major social determinant of health. Poverty impacts access to nutritious food, safe housing, and quality education, all of which profoundly affect health outcomes. Through our advocacy work, we aim to support individuals and communities in improving their economic conditions and accessing necessary resources.
We also lead educational awareness sessions covering the following topics:
- Housing and Homelessness issues
- Family services
- Financial literacy and Employability skills
- Legal and Immigration matters
- Community empowerment
- Improving Housing and Living Conditions
Safe, stable housing is crucial for good health. Poor living conditions such as overcrowding, homelessness, or unsafe environments can lead to health problems. Our Advocacy service collaborates with communities to promote policies that increase access to affordable housing, improve housing standards, and prevent homelessness.
The Homes for Health Project in Gorton – CAHN is a remarkable example of how we worked with various stakeholders to address this issue.
- Influencing Health Policy and Legislation
At the systemic level, our Advocacy Service aims to influence policy changes that impact the social determinants of health. This includes pushing for government investment in social services, healthcare reforms, public health initiatives, and anti-poverty programs.
- Empowering Communities
CAHN and the Community Empowerment [&] Advocacy Service collaborate with communities to enhance their capacity for self-advocacy. Through the dissemination of knowledge regarding rights, resources, and health-related issues, advocates enable individuals and communities to assume greater control over their health and advocate for improved conditions.
This grassroots strategy effectively fosters sustainable and enduring changes in addressing the social determinants of health.
In essence, advocacy endeavours to challenge the systemic and structural factors contributing to health disparities by addressing social determinants of health. By influencing policy, enhancing access to crucial services, and empowering marginalised populations, advocacy significantly contributes to the establishment of a more equitable and healthier society.
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
The legal framework in the UK ensures the availability of independent advocacy to support vulnerable individuals in health, social care, and legal settings. Legislations such as the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, and Care Act mandate the provision of independent advocacy for individuals encountering substantial difficulties in decision-making or accessing services. Advocates play a crucial role in helping individuals comprehend their rights, make informed decisions, and ensure their voices are heard, particularly in circumstances where they may be disadvantaged or unable to advocate for themselves. This framework underscores the UK’s commitment to safeguarding and empowering individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Here are these important elements of the legal framework surrounding independent advocacy in the UK:
a. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA)
The Mental Capacity Act serves as a foundational structure for rendering decisions on behalf of individuals who are unable to make decisions for themselves. An essential element of this Act is the inclusion of Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs). Mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
b. The Mental Health Act 1983 (amended in 2007)
The Mental Health Act addresses the care and treatment of individuals with mental health conditions and includes specific provisions for advocacy. Mental Health Act 1983 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
c. The Care Act 2014
The Care Act enhances the rights of people to receive independent advocacy, especially in the realm of social care. This legislation pertains to adults requiring care and support, caregivers, and those undergoing care evaluations or planning.
The advocate’s role is to assist the individual in participating in decisions regarding their care, which includes care assessments, care planning, evaluations, and safeguarding inquiries. This advocacy is intended to aid individuals in expressing their opinions, fully engaging in decisions that affect them, and comprehending the available care and support choices. Care and support statutory guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
d) Children and Families Act 2014
The Children and Families Act is aimed at upholding the rights of children and families, especially those with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities.
The Act guarantees that children, young people, and their families can receive independent advocacy throughout the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, assisting them in understanding intricate systems and engaging in decisions that impact their education and care. Children and Families Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
e. The Human Rights Act 1998
The Human Rights Act, while not exclusive to independent advocacy, plays a crucial part in safeguarding the rights of individuals and guaranteeing fair treatment, which advocacy services frequently endorse.
Independent advocates play a key role in upholding the human rights of individuals, particularly in circumstances where their rights might be disregarded or limited due to vulnerability. Human Rights Act 1998 (legislation.gov.uk)
f. Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act protects against discrimination based on characteristics like age, disability, race, gender, and more. Advocacy services primarily aim to guarantee that individuals experiencing discrimination or disadvantage have their rights respected and receive equitable treatment.
Public bodies, such as the NHS and local authorities, are obligated by the Act to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Advocates often assist in ensuring these accommodations are implemented, thereby promoting fairness in accessing services. Independent advocates may support individuals in challenging discriminatory practices or navigating complaint procedures when they encounter inequity in accessing healthcare, education, or social services. Equality Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)
g. Advocacy and Safeguarding Legislation
Independent advocacy also has a role in safeguarding vulnerable children and adults, making sure that their rights are upheld during investigations into neglect or abuse.
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities must offer advocacy in safeguarding situations if the individual struggles to understand or engage in the safeguarding process.
The Children Act 1989, and its revisions also include provisions for advocacy services, especially for children in care or those involved in child protection proceedings.
h. Local Authority Responsibilities
Local authorities in the UK are required by law to make sure that independent advocacy services are accessible to those who require them, especially under the regulations of the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Mental Health Act. This indicates that local authorities must guarantee that suitable advocacy services are appointed and accessible to meet the legal obligations outlined in the aforementioned Acts.
Furthermore, local authorities must notify individuals of their entitlement to an advocate when they fulfil the criteria specified by law (for example, during a care assessment or when detained under the Mental Health Act).
OUR KEY AREAS OF WORK
- Education
- Equitable application of Discipline Protocol- i.e. sanctions, detentions, exclusions, etc.
- Equitable application of the Special Educational Needs Policy – i.e. ECHP.
- Cultural competency of educational professionals- i.e. provision of CPD.
- Equitable application of the EDI (Equity Diversity and Inclusion) policy
- Family services
- Knowledge of UK laws relevant to parenting/family environment
- Tools, skills and strategies for effective parenting
- Awareness of UK Cultural expectations around parenting
- Cultural competencies of service provisions
- Accommodation, Residency and Finances
- Homelessness and Unsuitable accommodation
- Rights and processes around residency status, welfare rights, access to benefits, right to work
- Referral and support around finances- i.e. debt management; home budgeting
- Health and Social Care
- Awareness of patient healthcare rights
- NHS/Social Care’s responsibilities – i.e. around medical discharge; care in the community
HOW WE WORK
Caseload Management
Access to our comprehensive service is available through the conveniently embedded links on our website:
Advocacy Referral Form | Caribbean & African Health Network (cahn.org.uk)
Our dedication to efficient advocacy caseload management reflects our commitment to providing timely and effective support to our clients.
By carefully organising and prioritising our work, we ensure that each individual receives the advocacy they need, ultimately leading to positive outcomes and preventing advocate burnout.
Case Studies
We have successfully supported over 400 service users since the service inception in the latter period of 2021. Please visit this page often to read our success stories.
These stories are a testimony of the impact we make in our macro-social environment, some of which are:
- Cultural and Normative Changes
- Raising Awareness through our educational webinars
- Challenging Stigmas and misconceptions
- Empowerment of Individuals and Communities
- Amplifying Voices
- Building Capacity
- Increased accountability
- Promoting Ethical Practices
- Holding Power to Account
- Enhanced Public Services and Support Systems
- Protecting Vulnerable Groups
- Improving Access to Services
- Increased Equity and Strengthened Social Cohesion
- Reducing inequality by promoting fair treatment for all
- Challenging discrimination
- Promoting inclusivity
- Fostering solidarity
Our Online Outreach
- Family and Advocacy Support Sessions Family & Advocacy Sessions – CAHN
- Home Office Drop-in Sessions Home Office Drop In – CAHN
- Legal Drop-in Sessions Legal Drop In – CAHN
Face-To-Face Outreach
We participate in multiple events where we make valuable connections, and engage with the community about our services and referral pathways.
Our Past and Current Programmes/Projects
- Parenting Course CAHN Parenting Course – CAHN
- Healthy Homes Project Homes for Health Project in Gorton – CAHN
- Healthy Homes Conference Healthy Homes Conference – CAHN
- Student placements in collaboration with the University of Salford
- Digital Hub
Volunteering opportunities
If you would like to volunteer and earn some work experience in our team, please email volunteering@cahn.org.uk
If you would like to speak with us about anything else, please submit your enquiry using this form: https://forms.office.com/e/FTta0fxAyG or contact us via email at advocacy@cahn.org.uk
