Advocacy In Health And Social Care

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Wilks (2012, p.1), refers to advocacy as being a challenging subject, one of which is highly susceptible to change and an area of disagreement as to what should belong in the field. Furthermore, advocacy is such a multifaceted concept, it is difficult to define in any singular context. However, according to Henderson and Pochin (2001, p.1), advocacy can be broadly described “as the process of identifying with and representing a person’s views and concerns, in order to secure enhanced rights and entitlements”. Furthermore, Adams (2007 p.372), identifies advocacy as a form of empowerment which promotes and supports social inclusion by representing the voices and the interests of marginalised or vulnerable parties. According to Teasdale …show more content…

This can be evidenced in a BBC Documentary (2014), which investigated abuse being carried out at number of care homes. Residents were left soaked in urine or faecal matter for hours at a time, others suffered dehumanisation and emotional pain by being refused to go to the toilet and left for two hours. There were also signs of physical assault, verbal abuse and psychological abuse in all three homes investigated by the BBC. Dunning (2010) credits that having an advocate in place at a care home setting could prevent any future abuse or neglect happening in the first instance. Lancaster Advocacy (2006) cited in Community Care (2006), believe that “Older people can be particularly vulnerable”. Many, older people will go straight into a care environment straight after hospital. Some may have been treated poorly in hospital but “find it difficult to challenge doctors, nurses or social workers”. The ageing process can suppress people; consequently, they not strong enough to face the stress of taking on complaints systems alone (Lancaster Advocacy, 2006 cited in Community Care, 2006). Therefore, advocacy can ensure that if the person wishes to make a complaint, they will be well informed of the options open to them and will be able to access external independent support in order to pursue said complaint (Advocacy QPM,