Advocacy Services
Case reference FOI2022/00448
Published 10 May 2022
Request
Q1. How does the Local Authority define statutory advocacy?
Q2. Who provides your statutory advocacy services? Please be inclusive of all statutory advocacy services in your response.
Q3. How much has the Local Authority spent on statutory advocacy services each year over the last 10 years, broken down by year and service?
Q4. How many people have received statutory advocacy services each year over the last 10 years, broken down by year and service?
Q5. How many people have received non-statutory advocacy services each year over the last 10 years, broken down by year and service?
Q6. How does the Local Authority assess the level of need for statutory advocacy services?
Response
Q1. 1 How does the Local Authority define statutory advocacy?
A1. Herefordshire uses the Advocacy Code of Practise to define advocacy and non-instructed advocacy provision: 'Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, Represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy provider's work in partnership with the people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice. The non-instructed advocate seeks to uphold the person's rights; ensure fair and equal treatment and access to services; and make certain that decisions are take with due consideration for all relevant factors which must include the person's unique preferences and perspectives'
Q2. Who provides your statutory advocacy services? Please be inclusive of all statutory advocacy services in your response.
A2. Onside Independent Advocacy are commissioned to provide all advocacy service for adults in Herefordshire - IMCA, IMHA, Care Act Advocacy, IHCA, as well as non-statutory generic advocacy.
Q3. How much has the Local Authority spent on statutory advocacy services each year over the last 10 years, broken down by year and service?
A3. Please refer to the attached document
Q4. How many people have received statutory advocacy services each year over the last 10 years, broken down by year and service?
A4. We do not have this information available between 2012 and 2015. Our data collection process changed following the introduction of the Care Act 2014. Please refer to the attached document
Q5. How many people have received non-statutory advocacy services each year over the last 10 years, broken down by year and service?
A5. Please refer to the document attached where Generic (non-statutory) advocacy is detailed.
Q6. How does the Local Authority assess the level of need for statutory advocacy services?
A6. Levels of need are assessed by monitoring demand by way of monthly performance data from out contracted provider, Legislation changes will also necessitate reassessment of local demand, e.g. the introduction of the Care Act 2014.
We are currently working with our provider and system partners to estimate the impact of forthcoming changes as a result of the introduction, probably in 2023 of the Liberty Protection Safeguards.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.