Advocacy Matters (GG)

Advocacy Matters -

provides a highly effective, professional, issue–based independent advocacy service for individuals with mental health problems in Greater Glasgow from the age of 16 and over. Our aim is to assist people to be at the centre of the treatment they receive and to obtain information in order to be able to make informed choices. We also assist people with raising issues which concern them, in order that these can be appropriately addressed.

Advocacy Matters also has influence to raise more general issues regarding Mental Health Services in Greater Glasgow.

What Do We Do?

We provide individual, independent advocacy which could include things like:

• Assisting people to access information and finding out more about an individual’s rights regarding services they may receive
• Attending meetings with people to help them raise the issues that are important to them regarding mental health
• Helping people to make a comment or complaint regarding any service they are receiving or have received

How Do We Do This?

As people may have a right to access our services, we will meet with them to discuss the issue they feel concerned about, as soon as we possibly can. Please note that we prioritise people who are subject to powers and safeguards under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act 2003. We may operate a waiting list for other people who request our service. If we can assist we will make an agreement with the person about the steps we can take together, if we are unable to assist them we will try to put them in touch with an organisation that can.

How Long Do We Work With Service Users For?

We offer advocacy support for individual issues. Once an issue has been resolved or taken as far as agreed with the person, the advocacy support will come to a close. If the person should wish advocacy support with another matter, they can ask about this at any time, and we will consider if the issue is appropriate and assess its urgency.

What about Confidentiality and Safety?

An individual’s welfare is very important to us. All workers are aware of their duty to ensure service user’s, and their own, safety.

The advocacy worker will discuss their work with his /her supervisor and may share information with fellow workers within Advocacy Matters. They will not pass on information about people to others unless this has been agreed with the person, regarding the issue being pursued. The only time confidentiality would be broken would be if there were serious concerns for an individual’s safety or the safety of others.

What information do you hold about people?

Advocacy Matters holds information regarding people who use or have used our service, on our database. This information is used only to assist the work of the project and for general statistical purposes. No personal information will be disclosed to any other agency unless the person consents to this. If an individual has any concerns about this information or wishes to see the details held about them, they can request this via their advocacy worker.