Dumfries and Galloway Individual and Collective Advocacy Service

Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership require individual and collective advocacy services in Dumfries and Galloway that:

• are independent and professional
• provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused
• provide collective advocacy that is issue focussed; and
• meet statutory requirements and Scottish Government priorities.

The specification covers such services under the following categories adult advocacy in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and adult generic advocacy. The service includes individual advocacy and collective advocacy.

Individual Advocacy - is also known as one to one, professional or issue-based advocacy. It is provided by both paid and unpaid advocates. An advocate supports a person to represent their own interests and represents the views of a person if the person is unable to do this themselves. They provide support on specific issues and provide information but not advice.

Collective Advocacy - is where a group of people who are all facing a common problem get together on a formal basis to support each other over specific issues. Individual members of the group may also support each other over specific issues. The group may campaign on an issue that affects them all. A collective voice can be stronger than that of an individual, as groups are more difficult to ignore. Being part of a collective advocacy group can help to reduce a person’s sense of isolation when raising a difficult issue.

This requirement is for both the Council, Health and Social Care Partnership with additional services being provided to the Alcohol & Drug Partnership.