Information about advocates and asking someone to speak up for you.
What an advocate does
If you find it difficult to understand your care and support, or have difficulty communicating your views, you can ask someone to speak on your behalf. This person is called an advocate.
An advocate can attend meetings with you and support you during assessments and care planning. They represent your interests, and can help you to:
- understand the care and support you receive
- make decisions about your care
- challenge decisions you don’t agree with
- stand up for you and your rights
- communicate how you feel
Advocates can help you get your views or wishes across about things that are important to you. This could be about the care or medical treatment you receive, or your finances.
Who can be an advocate
An advocate could be a friend or family member that you trust to speak up for you at meetings.
A paid carer cannot act as an advocate for you.
We can help provide an advocate for you if you do not have a friend or relative to support you.
It's sometimes a good idea to use a professional advocate, because they:
- know about your rights
- know the options that should be made available to you
- make sure that your views are properly heard
How to get an advocate
There are a number of advocacy services locally and nationally.
Advocacy for All
Advocacy for All works with older people, disabled people and people with mental health conditions in Sutton. They make sure they're listened to when they are making decisions for now and in the future.
Make a referral on the Age UK website.
Phone
020 8300 9666
Email
info@advocacyforall.org.uk
Support for people with learning disabilities
VoiceAbility Sutton Self-Advocacy Group.
This group meets each week at Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning.
Phone
07557 746415
Email
Funmi.ogunjinmi@voiceability.org
Support for Refugees and migrants
Refugee and Migrant Network Sutton provides advocacy support for:
refugees
asylum seekers
newly settled immigrants
People with mental health conditions
The Advocacy Project provides advocacy for people with mental health challenges in hospital.
Older people
Older People's Advocacy Alliance promotes the importance of advocacy for older people. It provides a directory of older people's advocacy services in the London area.
You can also find advocacy support through national organisations, such as:
Contact us
If you want to find out about getting an advocate, contact the Adult Social Care team.
Phone
020 8770 5000
Write to us
Sutton Council
Civic Offices
St Nicholas Way
Sutton
SM1 1EA
Find us on Google maps
Email
referralpoint@sutton.gov.uk
Our offices and phone lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.