Andrew Dunning June 2010 A Scoping Study of Advocacy with Older People in Wales for the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales Executive Summary
Andrew DunningJune 2010
A Scoping Study of Advocacy with Older People in Wales for the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
Executive Summary
Aims and ObjectivesThe overall aim of the initial scoping study on advocacy has been to inform the work of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales by identifying the current context and what is in place at present - including gaps and weaknesses as well as strengths and good practice examples - and what the best opportunities are to make progress in particular areas.
The objectives of the study have been to provide:-
1. Aworkingdefinitionofadvocacy,asreferredtointheCommissionerforOlderPeople(Wales)Act(2006)
2. Anidentificationofprinciplesagainstwhichcurrentarrangementscanbejudged.
3. AnoverviewofWelshAssemblyGovernmentguidanceorregulationonadvocacyarrangementsinlocalauthorities,thehealthserviceandcareproviders.
4. Anoverviewofhowadvocacyarrangementsaremeasured,monitoredandreviewed.
5. AnoverviewoftheactionsbeingundertakenbytheWelshAssemblyGovernment,LocalAuthoritiesandothersinrelationtoadvocacyproceduresandprocessesandtheavailabilityofadvocacyacrossWales.
6. AnindicationofvariationacrossWales.
7. Informationonthenatureandtypeofadvocacybeingcommissioned.
8. Informationontheoutcomesforolderpeopleofadvocacyarrangements.
9. Anoverviewofrecentresearchevidenceabouttheoperationandadequacyofadvocacyarrangements.
10. IssuesofnotefortheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesregardingtheoperationofcurrentarrangementsaroundadvocacywitholderpeopletoformthebaseforadecisionuponwhichtofocusmoredetailedworkinfuture.
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Inordertohelptoinformitsworkonadvocacyandcomplaints,theOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalescommissionedtheOlderPeopleandAgeingResearchandDevelopmentNetwork(OPAN)atSwanseaUniversitytoundertakepreliminaryscopingstudies.ThisreportprovidesanExecutiveSummaryofthefullreportonthescopingstudyofadvocacyforolderpeople(Dunning2010).Itisacompaniondocumenttoareportonthescopingofcomplaintsandolderpeopleproducedaspartofthesameresearchproject(Lambert2010).ItalsocomplementsworkbeingcarriedoutbyonbehalfoftheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesbyAgeCymruontheproductionof Advocacy Counts 3,asurveyontheavailabilityofadvocacyservicesforolderpeopleinWales.
MethodsThescopingstudyinvolvedamixofresearchmethods,including:-
n Adesktopliteraturesearchandsecondarydataanalysisofacademicresearchpublicationsandotherdocuments;
n Aweb-basedsearchofWelshAssemblyGovernmentandlocalhealthandothercareorganisations’policiesandprocedures,evidenceofoperationandoutcomes;
n Electronicsurveysundertakenwitholderpeople’sstrategyco-ordinatorsandofficersinnationalandlocalgovernment,healthandvoluntaryorganisations;and
n Telephoneandfacetofaceinterviewswithstakeholdersinnationalandlocalgovernment,healthandvoluntaryorganisationsusingthekeyinformanttechnique.
Responsesrelatingtoadvocacygivenbycomplaintsofficersandotherparticipantsinthecompanionscopingstudyoncomplaintsprocedureswerealsoincorporatedwithin thisanalysis.
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ContextOlderpeoplemightneedadvocacyforseveralcompellingreasons,including:-protectionfromabuse;combatingagediscrimination;obtainingandchangingservices;securingandexercisingrights;andbeinginvolvedindecisionmakingandbeingheard,particularlyatpointsoftransitionincareandlivingarrangements.
Advocacywitholderpeoplehasbeensubjecttoincreasingattentionsincethe1990’sduetotheevolvinglegislativeandpolicycontext,thesupportofprogressiveprofessionals,theriseoftheadvocacymovementandtheexpresseddemandsofolderpeoplethemselves.However,whilsttherehasbeenagrowthinthenumberofadvocacyschemesworkingwitholderpeopleoverthepasttwodecades,thereremainsignificantchallengesforpolicyandprovisioninthisarea.
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Key Findings And Issues
Meanings and Models
n Definitionsofadvocacyaredynamicandsubjecttodebate.
n TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesmightdrawupondefinitionsdevisedbytheadvocacymovement(egOPAALandActionforAdvocacy)orenshrinedwithinlegislationelsewhere(egScotland).
n Thechosendefinitionshouldincorporatecomponentssuchas:-beingindependentofserviceprovision;onetoonewithanindividualolderperson/s;longtermorshortterminvolvement;paidorvoluntaryadvocates;supportedbyanadvocacyschemeororganisation;freetothepersonrequiringadvocacy;upholdingcoreadvocacyprinciples.
n Advocacymustbemaintainedasahighlyprincipledactivity.Itsbroadprinciplesareindependence,empowermentandinclusion.
n TheAdvocacyCharterdevelopedbyActionforAdvocacywiththewideradvocacymovementcontainsadetailedsetofprinciplesforpractice.
n Themainadvocacyrolesareinstrumentalandexpressive-bothareneededandvaluedbyolderpeople.
n Anumberofmodelsofadvocacyprovisionhavebeendeveloped.
n Thereisalackofspecialistadvocacyschemesforspecificissuessuchasdementia,physicalandsensoryimpairment;genericadvocacyschemesforolderpeoplewhoarenoteligibleforstatutoryservices;andpeeradvocacyprojectsrunbyandforolderpeopleinWales.
Advocacy and Legislation
n Legislationwithdutiestoprovideadvocacy,grantingpeoplerightstoadvocacyandgivingadvocateslegalstatushasbeenimplementedsince2005bywayofIndependentMentalCapacityAdvocacy(IMCA),IndependentMentalHealthAdvocacy(IMHA)andthenewMentalHealth(Wales)Measure.
n Thecurrentlegislativeframeworkremainsfarfromcomprehensiveandisonlyapplicabletoalimitednumberofolderpeoplewithinqualifyinggroups.BothIMCAandIMHAinvolvementisshortterminnatureandlimitedinscope.
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n Theselegislativeinitiativesareunderresearchedand,notwithstandingtheirrelativelyrecentdevelopment,amoresubstantialevidencebaseisdevelopinginEnglandthaninWales
n IncontrastwitharrangementsinEngland,thereisnoreadilyaccessibledatabase,dedicatedofficialorannualreportforIMCAinWales.
n RespondentstothisscopingstudystatedthatmostIMCAreferralswereconcernedwitholderpeople.
n ThenewMentalHealth(Wales)MeasurewillextendthegroupofqualifyingpatientseligibletoreceiveIMHAsupport,toincludeallpatientssubjecttotheformalpowersoftheMentalHealthAct1983aswellasvoluntaryandinformalpatientsnotdetainedundertheAct.
n AdvocacyorganisationsandotherrespondentstotherecentMentalHealth(Wales)Measurehighlightedanumberofissuesofconcernwhichpertaintoadvocacyprovisionmorewidely.Theyincludechallengeswithregardtoadvocacyprinciples,scope,strategy,funding,capacityandtraining.
Citizenship and Participation
n Acitizenshipapproachbroadensthescopeofadvocacytoincludeawiderrangeofservices,issuesandgroupsofolderpeopleascitizensaswellasserviceusers.
n Advocacyisameansofoperationalisingorputtingintopracticethecitizenshipofolderpeople.
n TheobjectiveofacomprehensiveadvocacyservicesstrategywithintheWelshAssemblyGovernmentThird Dimensionstrategyactionplanhasnotbeendelivered.
n Olderpeoplearedoublydisadvantagedasthereisnocomprehensivenationaladvocacystrategytoincludethemandnostandalonenationalstrategyforadvocacyforolderpeople(incontrastwithchildrenandyoungpeopleandothergroups).
n SecondtieradvocacyorganisationsinWaleslackorganisationalcapacitytofullyengagewiththedevelopmentofpolicyandpracticedevelopment.
n AdvocacyorganisationsinEnglandandWaleshavedevelopedamanifestocallingforanationalframeworkforadvocacy.
n AdvocacywasnotincludedintheStrategy for Older People in Wales,despiteapparentsynergies.However,somelocalauthoritieshavedevelopedadvocacystrategiesorservicesunderitsauspices.
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Human Rights and Equalities
n Humanrightsandequalitiesareacrucialpartofthecontextforadvocacyandbroadenitsconcernsbeyondthehealthandsocialcareofolderpeople.
n TheUnited Nations Principles for Older Personsdonotexplicitlymentionadvocacy,butcanbedrawnuponbyadvocatesinsupportingolderpersonswithregardstothepromotionandprotectionofindependence,participation,care,selffulfilmentanddignity.
n AdvocatesaredrawingupontheHumanRightsAct1998inrepresentingtheolderpersoninletter,decisionmakingmeetingsandothersituations.
n AhumanrightsapproachinadvocacywitholderpeoplehasbeenencouragedbytheHouseofLordsandHouseofCommonsJointCommitteeonHumanRightsandissupportedbytrainingmaterialsandopportunitiesforadvocates.
n AdvocateswillbeabletodrawupontheEqualityAct2010whichextendsthecircumstancesinwhichpeopleareprotectedagainstdiscriminationandplacesanequalitydutyonarangeofpublicbodiesandrelatedorganisations.Thisalsoallowsforawiderconsiderationofprotectedcharacteristicsincludingthepositionofgayandlesbianolderpeopleandblackandminorityethnicelders.
n TheEqualityandHumanRightsCommissionincludesindependentadvocacywithinitsstrategicprioritiesandiscommittedtoensurethatsuchadvocacyisavailableaspartofasocialcaresystembasedonequalityandhumanrights-particularlywithregardtoolderpeopleandotherprotectedgroups.
n TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesiswidelywelcomedbutrespondentssuggestthatmoreworkisneededtoraiseawarenessandclarifythenatureoftheadvocacyroleoftheCommissionerandtodeveloprelationshipswithadvocacyorganisationsacrossWales.
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Health and Social Care
n Thebroadstrategicframeworkforhealthandsocialcaresupportstheengagementandempowermentofolderpeopleasserviceusersandcitizens,andcanbecomplementedbytheprovisionofadvocacy.
n The National Service Framework for Older PeopleincludestheavailabilityanduseofadvocacywithinStandard1regardingrootingoutagediscrimination,butdoesnotrequireorresourcelocalprovision.
n Asyet,advocacyhasnotbeenformallylinkedtotheDignityinCareagenda,buthasreceivedsupportfromtheDignifiedRevolutioncampaigngroup.
n Olderpeoplewithmentalhealthproblemsmightbedeniedadvocacysupportiftheyfalloutsidethetermsofstatutoryprovision,includingthoseseekingaccesstomentalhealthservicesinthefirstplace.
n Similarly,olderpeoplewithdementiamightbeunabletoaccessadvocacyiftheydonotmeetthecriteriaforIMCAandotherstatutoryprovision,includingthoseneedingsuchsupportonanongoing,longtermbasis.
n WhilsttheNationalDementiaPlanforWalesandestablishmentofdementiaadvisersmightimproveawarenessofadvocacyservices,suchprovisionhastobeavailableandcapableofmeetingdemand.
n TheWelshAssemblyGovernment(WelshAssemblyGovernment)Statement on Policy and Practice for Adults with a Learning Disability (2007)recognisesthesignificantageingofthepopulationofpeoplewithlearningdisabilitiesandhighlightstheimportanceofadvocacyinsupportingpeopleinmakingtheirneedsknown.
n DespitetheWelshAssemblyGovernmentAdvocacyGrantSchemeforadvocacygroupsworkingwithpeoplewithlearningdisabilities,theavailabilityandsustainabilityofsuchgroupsremainsuncertain.
n Thereisnostatutoryrighttoadvocacyonthebasisofphysicalorsensoryimpairment-theprevalenceofwhichincreaseswithage-andthereisadearthofprovisionintheseareas.
n TheWelsh Vision Strategy Implementation Plan 2010-13includesadvocacyinitsobjectives.Somelocalauthoritieshavesoughttotakeaccountoftheadvocacyneedsofolderpeoplewithphysicalandsensoryimpairmentswithintheircommissioning,wellbeingandadvocacystrategies.
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n Olderpeoplecompriseasignificantproportionofcarers.Despitelegislationandpolicydevelopmentstosupportcarersinassessmentandtheprovisionofinformationandadvice,thereisnoentitlementtoadvocacytoensurethattheirvoicesareheard.
n Someadvocacyschemesworkingwitholderpeoplemoregenerallydorepresentissuesraisedbyolderpeoplewhoarecarersandthecarers’movementhasdevelopedadvocacyskillstrainingandotherinitiatives.
n Advocacycanbecrucialinmakingadecisionaboutenteringacarehome,whilstlivinginacarehomeorintheeventofleavingacarehomeduetoitsclosureorchangeofcircumstances.
n TheNational Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People in Wales(2002)requirethatserviceusersareassistedinaccessingadvocacyservices,buttheavailabilityofsuchservicesisvariableandinspectionreportsbyCCSIWdonotalwaysincludereferencetotheiruse.
n IndependentlivinghasbeenpromotedbythedisabilitymovementandWelshAssemblyGovernmenthasdevelopedcitizencentredsupportthroughdirectpaymentsandothermeans.Advocacycanhelptosupportolderpeoplelivinginthecommunitytoexercisechoiceandcontrol.
Adult Protection and Safeguarding
n Advocacyinrelationtoadultprotectionisanunder-researchedarea.
n Advocacycanbeavitalcomponentinthepreventionofandprotectionfromabuse.
n Thecurrentreviewof In Safe HandsandconsultationonthecreationofunifiedpolicyandproceduresforadultprotectionprovidesasignificantopportunitytopromotethedevelopmentofadvocacyforolderpeopleinWales.
n TheCSSIWnationaloverviewofadultprotectiongiveslittlereferencetoadvocacyandcoverageinlocalinspectionreportsisvariable.
n ThereisnolegislationonadultprotectioninWales(orinEnglandorNorthernIreland),whereasinScotlandthereissuchlegislationwhichalsoincludesprovisionofadvocacy.
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Complaints and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
n Advocacycanprovideameansofsupportforolderpeopleinmakingacomplaintandinnegotiatingthecomplaintsprocess.
n Advocacymaybepreventativeinsupportinganolderpersontoachieveapositiveoutcomebeforeacomplainthastobemadeorfindingresolutionearlyinthecomplaintsprocess.
n TheSocial Services Complaints Procedures (Wales) Regulations(2005)placesadutyontheauthoritytomakeavailabletoanycomplainantinformationonhowtocontactanadvocacyscheme,butnotadutytoarrangesuchprovision.
n LocalauthoritycomplaintsofficersandNHScomplaintsofficersacknowledgethataccesstoadvocacywouldmakecomplaintsproceduresmoreaccessible.
n Olderpeopleaged60yearsandovercomprise50%ofallcomplaintssupportedbyCommunityHealthCouncils(CHC’s).However,lessthan40%ofthetotalnumberofcomplaintstotheNHSweresupportedbyCHC’s.
n Uniquely,inPowystheCHChasbeencommissionedtoprovideIMCAandIMHAservicesaswellasCHCComplaintsAdvocacyservices.
n Therehavebeenvariationsinthewayinwhichissuesinvolvingtheabuseofolderpeoplehavebeensubjecttocomplaintsoradultprotectionprocedures.Advocatescanhavearoleinhelpingtoensurethattheappropriatechannelsarepursuedonbehalfoftheolderperson.
n Housingagencieshavedevelopedcomplaintsproceduresandmechanismsfortenantparticipationandrepresentation.However,suchrepresentationtendstobeonacollectiveratherthanindividuallevelandthereislittleevidenceofarrangementstofacilitateaccesstoindependentadvocacy.
n ThePublicServicesOmbudsmanforWaleshasidentifiedanumberofconcernsregardingadvocacyforolderpeopleinWales,includingthepatchinessofprovision;lackofaccesswithinarangeofsettingsandsituations;lackofresourcesandcapacityofsomeadvocacyservices;aswellastheneedtoraiseawareness.
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Funding and Commissioning
n Thereisageneralviewthatadvocacywitholderpeopleisunderresourcedandthatfundingfornon-statutoryadvocacyinparticularisinsufficient.
n Mostnon-statutoryadvocacyschemesworkingwitholderpeoplereceivefundingfrommorethanonesource.Whilstthiscanprotectindependenceandbringflexibilitiesinprovision,italsoentailsmoretimespentinsecuringfundingandadheringtofundingrequirements.
n Relianceuponshorttermfundingarrangementscanplaceadvocacyschemesinavulnerableposition.
n ThefundingandcommissioningofadvocacyforolderpeoplebyWelshAssemblyGovernment,localauthoritiesandhealthboardshasbeensubjecttovaryingdegreesofattentionandprioritisation.
n Advocacyorganisationshaveraisedconcernsaboutfundingbasedupon“numbermapping”ofthepopulationandcaseloadstatisticswithoutconsiderationofrurality,geographyandlanguage.
n Thereisamarkedcontrastbetweenthelegislativeandpolicyposition,fundingstatusandlevelofserviceprovisionofadvocacywitholderpeopleandthatofothergroups,particularlychildrenandyoungpeople.
n Anoverarchingadvocacystrategyacrossallgroupswouldhighlightgapsandinconsistenciesinthefundingandprovisionofadvocacythroughoutthelife-courseofallcitizens.
n Thecurrenteconomicclimate,publicservicecutsanduncertaintysurroundingthecontinuinglevelsoffundingthroughtheStrategy for Older People in Wales,hasheightenedconcernsthatadvocacyoutsidestatutoryobligation,oroutsideverytightprioritisationsetbystatutorybodies,willnotbecommissioned.
n Widerbenefitsofadvocacycouldbehighlighted,includingitsroleinhelpingtomeetWelshAssemblyGovernmentobjectivesofcitizenship,empowermentandinclusion;supportingimprovementsinpersoncentredcareandservicequality;andprovidingconsumerfeedback.
n Therehasbeenalackoffundingforsecondtieradvocacyorganisationstosupportthedevelopmentofadvocacyingeneralandwitholderpeopleinparticular.Incontrast,theScottishGovernmentdirectlyfundstheScottishIndependentAdvocacyAlliance.
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n AdvantAGE,theBigLotteryFundCymruprogrammeprovidesagenerousandunprecedentedfundingopportunityforthedevelopmentofadvocacywitholderpeopleinWales.However,thereareconcernsthattheinitiativeshouldnotbecomeasubstituteforasubstantiveadvocacystrategyorfundingfromstatutorysources.
Standards and Outcomes
n TheAdvocacy Counts 2survey(AgeConcernCymru2008)showedthat56%ofadvocacyschemesusedstandardsdevelopedbyActionforAdvocacy,whilsttheremaining44%usedavarietyofframeworksincludingthosedevelopedbyWelshAssemblyGovernmentandhostorganisations.
n SomeadvocacyschemeshavesoughtexternalqualitymarkssuchasInvestorsinPeople,theCommunityLegalServiceQualityMarkandPracticalQualityAssuranceSystemforSmallOrganisationsQualityMark(PQASSO).
n StatutoryadvocacyprovidershavequalitystandardssetdownbyGovernment.Thesequalitystandardswerelargelydevelopedinconsultationandengagementwiththeadvocacymovement.
n TheActionforAdvocacyQualityPerformanceMark(QPM)hasattainedwidespreadrecognitionandhassofarbeenawardedtosixadvocacyprovidersworkinginWales.
n Advocacyschemesarevariouslymonitoredandreviewedusingframeworkstheythemselvesputinplace,bytheirhostorganisationsorbyfundersandcommissioners.
n Advocacyschemescanbeevaluatedinavarietyofways,includingtheActionforAdvocacyQualityPerformanceMark,evaluativeresearchbyacademicsandconsultants,aswellasuserengagementandfeedbackinitiatives.
n Intheevaluationofadvocacy,itisimportanttomaintaincoreprinciples,toconsiderprocessaswellasoutcomesandtoavoidoverlysimplisticormechanisticmeasuresofresults.
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n Anationaladvocacyqualificationwaslaunchedin2009,aimingtoensurequalityandconsistencyinthetrainingofadvocates.ThequalificationwasdevelopedbytheDepartmentofHealthinpartnershipwithWelshAssemblyGovernmentandinvolvingadvocacyorganisationsintheprocess.
n Whilsttherehasbeengrowingrecognitionoftheneedforsuchtrainingandengagementbytheadvocacymovement,therehavebeenconcernsabouttheprofessionalisationofadvocacy,replicatingtraditionalformsofserviceprovisionandbecomingremovedfromitsmoreradicalroots.
n Advocatesandthoserunningadvocacyschemesneedsupervision,supportandopportunitiesfordevelopmentinordertodealwiththesubstantialethical,legalandpracticalchallengesanddilemmastheyfrequentlyface.
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Suggested priority areas for future work Definition
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWaleswillneedtoconsiderthetypologyofforms,keyelementsandmeaningsaspresentedwithinthescopingstudyinordertodeterminetheworkingdefinitionofadvocacyultimatelytobeemployedbytheCommission.
Principles
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesmightreasonablyutilisetheoverarchingadvocacyprinciplesofindependence,empowermentandinclusionalongwiththemoredetailedprinciplesforpracticeasdevelopedbyActionforAdvocacy,againstwhichcurrentarrangementscanbejudged.
Approach
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesshouldmaintainanapproachbaseduponcitizenship,humanrightsandequalities.Suchanapproachwidensthescopeofadvocacyandbroadenstherightsandrepresentationofdiversegroupsofolderpeoplebeyondthoseofbeingusersofhealthandsocialcarealone.
Legislation
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesshouldnotetheevolvingbutstillextremelylimitedlegislativestatusofadvocacy.TheCommissionermightconsidertheneedformorecomprehensivelegislationtomeettheadvocacyneedsofolderpeoplemorewidely.Thismightincludetheextensionofentitlementtoareassuchasadultprotection,asisalreadythecaseinScotland.
Strategy
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesshouldnotetheabsenceofnationalstrategyforadvocacyandthevariationsinlocalstrategydevelopment.TheCommissionermightconsidertheneedtochampionanationaladvocacystrategyforolderpeopleandforacomprehensivestrategyforadvocacythroughthelifecourse.Supportforsecondtieradvocacy
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organisationstoassistinthedevelopmentofadvocacyatnationalandlocallevelsmightalsobeconsidered.
Policy
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesshouldnotethatadvocacyiscontainedwithinanumberofrelevantpolicydocumentsatnationalandlocallevel.InsomepolicyareastheCommissionermightseektostrengthenthepositionorapplication,forexamplewithregardtosupportforcomplainantsorintheinspectionofcarehomes.Therecentrevisionofadultprotectionproceduresreferstoadvocacyandprovidesanopportunityforitsuseinthisfield.Furthermore,theremightbescopefortheCommissionertofacilitatethesharingofbestpracticeinpolicydevelopmentonadvocacyacrosssectors,authoritiesandorganisations.
Provision
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesmighthighlightthegaps,shortagesandvariationsofprovisioninadvocacyforolderpeople.Suchlimitationsareapparentwithinarangeofsocialgroups,situationsandsettingsaswellasbetweenlocalauthorityareas.TheCommissionermightalsoencouragetheappropriatetrainingandsupervisionofadvocatesandthemaintenanceofsuitablequalitystandardsbyadvocacyschemes.
Funding
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesmightnotonlyseektoprotectthefundingofexistingadvocacyservicesbutalsotomakethecaseforfundingbeyondstatutoryprovision-albeitatatimeofshrinkingpublicexpenditure.Furthermore,theCommissionermighthelptoensurethatadvocacyisbeingcommissionedinaccordancewithadvocacyprinciples,processesandoutcomes.CloseworkinglinkswiththeBigLotteryFundCymruAdvantAGEprogrammemightalsobebeneficialintermsofstrategicandservicedevelopment.
Research
TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWalesshouldnotethatadvocacywitholderpeopleisanunder-researchedsubject.TheCommissionermightwishtoconsidertheneedtoundertakefurtherconceptual,empiricalandevaluativestudies.Giventheprevalenceofolderpeoplewithinitsworkload,anannualnationalreportonIMCAmightbeproducedinWalesasisalreadythecaseinEngland.TheCommissionermightalsofacilitatethesharingoflearninglocally,nationallyandinternationallythroughevents,publicationsandwebpages.
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Role of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
ThereisaneedtoraiseawarenessabouttheadvocacyroleoftheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWales.TheCommissionercanbeseentoembodyapublicadvocacyrolebuttherealsoappearstobeaneedtofurtherclarifyunderstandingaboutthenatureofindividualorcaseworkadvocacybeingundertaken.Inaddition,relationshipswiththeadvocacymovementmightbefurtherconsolidatedthroughsharinginformation,networkingandjointinitiatives.Furthermore,theCommissionermightplayakeyrolein“advocatingforadvocacy”forolderpeopleinWales,amongstpoliticians,policymakers,commissioners,providers,olderpeopleandwiderpopulation.
Older People’s Perspectives
Itisessentialthatolderpeople’sviewsandexperienceshelptoshapethedevelopmentofadvocacy.TheOlderPeople’sCommissionerforWaleshasalreadyembarkeduponaprocessoflisteningandgatheringolderpeople’sperspectivesonadvocacy,withacallonthewebsiteoftheCommissionandbyothermeans.Giventhepaceofchangeandpressingnatureofmattersfacingadvocacywitholderpeople,afurthereventwitholderpeopletotheforemightbeatimelyandwelcomepartofthisprocess.Asoneolderrespondentremarked,
“ThingshavebeenhappeningforolderpeopleinWalesinrecentyears.Butwearebehindonthis.Andthis(advocacy)issomethingthatisneeded,reallyneeded.They(advocates)arejustnotavailableorknowntoallwhomightneedone.Anyofusmightneedanadvocatesometime.Weneedtogetupanddosomethingaboutitforourselvesandothers.”
Andrew Dunning CentreforInnovativeAgeing SchoolofHumanandHealthSciences SwanseaUniversity,SA28PP
[email protected] September2010
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