A Professional Service

There are a number of models for delivering one to one advocacy, including volunteer and peer group Advocates. The model adopted by POhWER is that of professional case-working Advocates. This means that all one to one Advocates are paid employees of the organisation.

Advantages of this model include:

• Accountability to POhWER policies and practices.
• Ability to provide swift issue based resolution.
• Ability to develop skills and confidence through diverse experience.
• Ability to be available for meetings and to chase up actions with third parties involved in the case.
• Availability to work with the clients throughout core business hours.

Recruitment and development of Advocates

POhWER recognises the importance of a workforce that reflects the diversity of the clients who use the services and the issues that they present.

For this reason POhWER places emphasis in recruitment upon the candidate’s experience, and their ability to apply experience to working in an empowering style.
Most Advocates have a professional training including teaching, nursing, legal practice, business and social work.

Some Advocates also have backgrounds in elected positions in local government.

In addition to experience and questions asked at interview, recruitment to advocacy posts is also based upon the outcome of tests. These are designed to assess the candidate’s professional skills in letter writing, prioritising tasks and IT literacy.

Once in post the Advocates receive a structured two week induction, which includes a formal introduction to all POhWER services, debriefing on key operational and employment policies and a period of shadowing experienced Advocates.

Following the induction, an Advocate can benefit from the following types of support:

• Peer support from team members.
• Support from a cross-organisational Skills Audit that is accessible on POhWER’s staff extranet.
• Monthly line management from an experienced advocacy manager.
• Day to day access to their line manager.
• Bi-monthly staff development workshops delivered by internal and external facilitators.
• Case review meetings.
• Independent clinical group supervision.
Find out about jobs at POhWER

Training

POhWER is also designing a training course on advocacy skills, which will be compulsory for all staff. Once this is developed and piloted POhWER will seek accreditation for the course and to market it to external organisations.

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