Independent Advocacy Service

Medway Council (the Commissioner) is committed to providing a high quality independent advocacy service to people who need support with health and social care. The following statutory functions will be delivered through an integrated service (the Service): o Independent Care Act Advocacy o Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy and Relevant Person Representative o Independent Mental Health Advocacy o Independent Health Care Advocacy (NHS Complaints) The Service will work closely with the soon-to-be-commissioned 'one stop shop' information and advice gateway. The Service is aimed at people aged 18 years or older. However, where appropriate to do so, services will consider young people in transition, and will take a whole-family approach by supporting signposting to other services Core Principles: The Provider will operate the Service in line with the following principles. These will be understood and followed by all partner/ consortium organisations and individuals in providing the Service. Collaboration o The Provider and partner/ consortium organisations will pool resources where appropriate, including buildings, staff and other infrastructure to create an atmosphere of collaboration and common purpose; and to reduce duplication and provide value for money o The Provider will work with other organisations in Medway (outside the Service) and work creatively with them to deliver the joined-up and cost effective solutions to achieve positive outcomes for local people Respect and diversity o The Provider will acknowledge and respect people's gender, ethnicity, faith or religion, sexual identity, disability or impairment, social background, and economic status o The Provider will actively pursue the interests of underrepresented groups and will be proactive in tailoring the main service functions to their needs o Providers will respect and safeguard people's privacy at all times Wellbeing o The Service will be focused on sustaining and improving people's wellbeing o The Service will consider a holistic approach that gives equal credence to both people's emotional wellbeing and their physical wellbeing - recognising that people's support needs often go beyond their presenting need Prevention o The Service will focus on delaying or preventing the deterioration of people's health or social circumstances - signposting to statutory health and social care services when appropriate to do so but empowering people to find support in other ways Coproduction and empowerment o The Service will be centred on the empowerment of people who need care and support and enabling them to have greater choice on how they live their li