What We Do

Independent Advocates

Ita Bunn is an Independent Advocate with Sandwell Advocacy, she provides one to one issue based advocacy support for anyone who has a health and social care need with clearly defined advocacy issues. It would be an understatement to say that the work keeps her very busy.

Issue based advocacy is largely about working on a one to one basis to explore avenues open to people; explaining these avenues in an understandable way to ensure that informed decisions can be made; and then supporting people to articulate their views, needs and wishes to appropriate people/services. This is done in a non-judgemental manner; utilising empowering strategies in order to ensure that marginalized excluded individuals are able to take a little more control over what happens in their lives.

An Independent Advocate can:
• Help people find information.
• Give people time to think about their choices.
• Listen to people and help them say what they want.
• Work towards building individuals confidence so that they are more able to speak up for themselves.
• Develop a mutually agreed ‘advocacy pathway’ which has clearly set goals and works towards an eventual conclusion.

Ita Bunn

An Independent Advocate will not:
• Give people advice or make decisions for them.
• Work with people indefinitely.
• Provide legal representation.

Although Independent Advocacy is a generic service providing support to anyone with a health and social care need, the vast majority of people we do work with have the label learning disability. The remaining individuals accessing this support will almost certainly have either physical disabilities, a sensory impairment, mental health issues or some form of dementia.

If you feel that you might need support or would like to talk to us about someone who does, please click this link to our referrals page.