Advocacy plea

Published on 13/09/2012 00:00

The Scottish Parliament is currently developing new legislation, the Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Bill, to give ­people more control over their ­social care.

This will mean that people will be able to decide what support suits their needs and gives them the best quality of life, and will have this right enshrined in statute.

The philosophy behind the proposed legislation is to ensure that people have effective control and choice over their care needs. Independent advocacy – having someone to put one’s case clearly and effectively – is, therefore, vital in helping people express those needs, identify options and make informed choices.

We believe that, to ensure that independent advocacy is available to all who wish such support, to make and express informed choices about their care needs, the right of access to advocacy services must be included in the terms of the proposed bill.

The bill is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament and will be ­debated at Holyrood next Tuesday, 18 September.

We, the undersigned, feel it is therefore appropriate at this time to call on the Scottish Government to explicitly include the right to independent advocacy in the proposed legislation.

Shaben Begum
Scottish Independent 
Advocacy Alliance

Peter Brawley
SPAEN (Scottish Personal Assistant Employers
Network)

Callum Chomczuk
Age Scotland

Marj Donaldson

Ross and Cromarty 
Disability Access Group

Dee Fraser

CCPS (Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland)

Shelly Grey

Long Term Conditions 
Alliance

Maddy Halliday
Stroke Association 
Scotland

Ian Hood
Learning Disability Alliance

Lillian Lawson
Scottish Council on 
Deafness

Bill Scott
Inclusion Scotland

Frances Simpson

Support in Mind Scotland

Borders Advocacy
Advice and Support 
Forum