Over the last year the SIAA have been working with The Stroke Association to develop advocacy for people who have been affected by stroke.  As a result of this work four advocacy organisations took part in pilots to deliver advocacy to this group.

The results of the pilots were detailed in a conference held in Perth in February.

Along with the provision of advocacy one of the participating organisations, Advocacy Highland , developed training for advocates working with those affected by stroke.  This has been further developed and a training pack has now been published by SIAA in partnership with the Stroke Association. 

The documents can be downloaded from our website.  For more information about the training pack contact enquiry@siaa.org.uk .  SIAA Members have been sent paper copies and an electronic version can be found on the SIAA website.

24 August 2011

The Summer edition of About Advocacy is now available for download here 850kb).  If you are subscribed to receive a paper version, it should be with you any day now. 

In this Edition:

New Independent Advocacy initiatives.  We talk to The Neurological Alliance about their investigation into the need for Independent Advocacy for people with a neurological condition and Sally Dick tells us about setting up a collective advocacy group for people affected by alcohol related brain damage. 

Jo McFarlane shares two powerful new poems with us about the difference collective advocacy has made to her own and other's lives.

We publish the results of our research into member's experiences of funding for new advocacy opportunities. Find out what is funded and why some new groups are not taken on.

We hear from Alison Hossack of ACE Advocacy about the hustings event the collective advocacy group Our Voice, Our Choice held in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary Elections.

Find out about the new SIAA project Inspiring our Future.  

If you would like to recieive a paper copy of the SIAA quarterly magazine, or have any feedback or ideas for future articles, please email us at enquiry@siaa.org.uk.

14 June 2011

SIAA - Letter to the Scotsman: Abuse in care (Read it on the Scotsman website here)

This past fortnight has seen a stream of stories about neglect and abuse of some of the most vulnerable members of our society in the very places one would expect they would be properly cared for and safe.

The report, published last week by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, on their investigation of the experiences of an elderly woman with dementia, in a general medical ward of a Scottish hospital told the story of neglect and abuse suffered by her before her death.  This has been followed by the dreadful Panorama report on the violent and bullying abuse suffered by people with learning disabilities and autism at the hands of the people who were employed to care for them.  In addition there has been news in the Scottish press of the closure of a care home where there have been allegations of abuse and neglect; there is also a current police investigation into the death of one of the former residents. 

Since the Panorama programme was screened on Tuesday we have had several calls, at the offices of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, from people asking where they would go to report concerns about abuse in a care setting.  This is of grave concern suggesting as it does that there are a number of other, as yet undiscovered, instances of abuse in care settings.

In all of the cases reported there has been no mention of access to independent advocates.  An independent advocate will support a person to gather information, explore and understand options, make their own informed decisions and express their own views, wishes and opinions or speak up on their behalf if that is what the person wishes.

In Scotland, in the case of someone who lacked the capacity to give instructions, the independent advocate could act in a non-instructed way.  The sole purpose of an independent advocate in that situation would be to ask questions of the health or care staff, encourage staff to consider the reasons behind any obvious distress and raise issues of concern with the appropriate authorities.

It can be difficult for someone who is employed by the organisation in which any abuse might be occurring to report any concerns.  The Panorama report showed the experience of the staff member who had consistently reported his concerns without success.  Independent advocacy is as free as possible from any conflicts of interest and our experience has shown that, with the involvement of independent advocacy, complaints and expressed concerns may be acted upon with a degree of urgency.

We believe that these reports clearly demonstrate how important access to independent advocacy can be for people in situations where they are vulnerable.  To allow for access Local authorities and NHS Boards must ensure that there are appropriate levels of independent advocacy in their areas.

Shaben Begum MBE
Director, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance.

3 June, 2011

It is of much concern that we have been hearing of cases of neglect and abuse of vulnerable people in the very places one would expect they would be properly cared for. 

Last week the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland published their report ‘Starved of care’ on the treatment of Mrs V in hospital.  The news quickly followed about the closing of the Elsie Inglis care home and the related police investigations into two deaths.  The BBC’s Panorama programme about the abuse of people with learning disabilities and autism has caused much distress and has resulted in four arrests.

If you need help or are concerned about a friend or family member here are some useful links and phone numbers:

• Find out how to complain about a care home in Scotland by going to the SCSWIS website or phoning 0845 600 9527
• Find an Advocate to represent a vulnerable person in hospital or a Care Home        
• Age Concern run the Scottish Helpline for Older People (SHOP).  Call 0845 125 9732