What is Advocacy
My Volunteer Community Advocacy:
My clients range from families/people who are in disputes or destitute, on there way to homelessness, physically disabled and some who are mentally ill and find it near impossible to understand the situations that seem to make their lives impossible.
My position is to try my best to understand the client's problems and how to assist to the best of my ability.
On the other hand I can not ask for the impossible, or what is beyond the given policies as mandated by the different ministries or departments I have to deal with. Nine times out of ten, I have to figure out a path that will make both client and ministry/department worker at least satisfied without creating any unreasonable solution.
If you create an unreasonable situation with either party and one or the other is left dissatisfied, it will take for ever to pry the bullet out of your foot and clients and ministries will not want to deal with you…. your advocating career will come to an abrupt end and you will help nobody.
This my talent and people with problems are my challenge, strengths and understandings.
The simple thirty two steps to become an reasonably good Advocate.
How does a person become a "Front Line" Advocate:
Many people call themselves Advocates or can be Advocates, but this is the excepted way.
Take the time to train in an accredited program through the Law Society or Intuitions and services of equal standing, or a seasoned Advocate who has all the qualifications and experience. Self taught, on the job routes are costly to your clients while you make your share of errors while traveling through the learning process.
Never think you have the skills to deal with all that ends up on your plate, but your successes and experiences will provide you with the tools to adjust to new circumstances.
You also have to find the time to follow up and up date with respect to on going changes in the codes that house the different legal guide lines, its part of your responsibility.
*Ethics, Assessment, Ramifications, Liabilities and Limitations.
*Interpersonal Relationships, Apathy, Indifference, Satisfaction.
*Mediation, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution.
*Basic; Civil, Child & Family, Family Law, Landlord Tenancy Disputes, Small
Court Procedure, Some Corporate and Business Law.
*The Powers of Bailiffs, Seizures, Collection Agencies, Judgments,
Garnishees.
*Comprehensive Reading and Writing Legal Agreements and
Documents.
*Charters & Acts: The Mental Health Act, Child and Family Act,
The Immigration Act, The Prison System, The new Employment Assistance Act,
(this month's name), Human Rights, Rights and Freedoms Act.
Note: All of these "acts" have policies and mandates that are subject
to change. Change can occur any time and for a host of different reasons.
Keep in mind that your understanding of any or some of these subjects does not make you as informed as, for example a Lawyer, but you will know when a Lawyer is required and if a lawyer is unattainable, you can in fact represent your client if you study your subject, make clear, concise arguments and except absolutely no remuneration and have your necessary paper work in order. etc. If any of this is confusing, pass on this client to a more informed Advocate.
Basic Paralegal skills is an expectation of an Advocate. If you are shy, this is not for you.
All of these skills vary depending on where you receive your training.
Ethics; Assessment of a Client and situation is the first step in excepting a challenge to remedy a problem that may or may not exist or is far more complex or simple than the client or yourself expects.
When you ascertain that your potential client has a legitimate, problematic situation that deserves the effort to attempt a remedy, be prepared to travel the entire route to resolution.
You also have to leave open the door to an exit if fabrication or deception is determined.
You can not be a party to an untruth or allow yourself to assist or participate in a scheme or plan where motive on anyone's part is a party to anything untrue, you are subject to personal liability and will pay the price for your participation beyond discrimination.
If you except a client's burden, and have no contacts or understanding of the Ministry/Intuition or the entity you will be dealing with, prepare yourself to understand policies mandates and protocol or operating rules of what or who you will be dealing with.
Keep in mind that your repairing a negative situation and are not engaged in a game or there to prove your talent…
There are lives affected by the outcome of your negotiations skills based on principals, understanding and your concern for what is just and right.
Interpersonal Relationships and Problem Solving Skills;
Keep your interactions and communications totally in pace with respect to levels and apply the "keep it simple stupid" theory comprehension/communication so you can extract the necessary information and discuss remedies that do not burden your most lightly, stressed out client with a comprehension inferiority complex.
Be thoughtful, considerate, and careful not to talk over the head of your client.
Its not a principal that is always applied by some autocrats, bureaucrats, functionaries or mean spirited Social Workers, but more than often your client will have had more than their share of people of such ilk in their dealing up until your entrance into the picture.
As you navigate through a host of different problems and successful resolutions, if you conduct yourself in a sensitive, professional manner, you will acquire "friends and contacts" along route in positions to remedy situations with as little muss and fuss as possible based on their past dealing with you and the over all need to dispense with situations that can escalate into larger, unnecessary problems that take up time in a no win situation.
Conflict Resolution: Remember, your principal tools are Mediation, Negotiation, leading to Conflict Resolution, not adversity, argumentative rhetoric that leaves no one happy. Always take note of what community based services have to offer people in distressed circumstances, more than often they have specializations exceeding yours in their field that will not only serve your client well, but will also free you up for what you do best.
Confidentiality; It is extremely important to always respect a client's right to confidentiality, all written or verbal communications are to be treated with the utmost care.
You the Advocate, have to have permission from your client to do or say anything on your client's behalf, You are only the extension of your clients wishes.
If your client's wishes are not in focus with norms, reality or legitimate reason, and you do not feel comfortable with the direction issues or wishes are heading, resign, with draw and have no further contact and have a witness to your withdraw from your obligation to that client as their Advocate.
Up grade your notes/paper work to describe the situation and keep an accurate record concerning your witness.
People With Physical and Mental Disabilities: More often than not you will find yourself in the service of clients with mental and physical disabilities. These people may make up a sizable amount of your clients and will require ongoing assistance.
The elderly as well as Disabled physically or mental illnesses, are vulnerable to professional apathy,
which they can encounter on a regular basis while dealing with public services and institutions.
Professional apathy is most often not recognized in those branches which deal with hundreds
of people on a day to day basis – robotic processing. This form of public service allows for little or no interaction with people, and can leave elderly people feeling intimidated and belittled.
Your clients are entitled to respect and dignity and it is your duty as their advocate to ensure
this. Quite often the best interests of these elderly and/or disabled people are not served by
their “caregivers", and it is your responsibility to try and address this.
OAP; The Elderly make up a fair percentage of these clients because of their weakening state of health and physical immobility’s, mental health quite often.
They are all vulnerable to professional apathy, quite often part and parcel of public services and institutions. Its most often not even recognized in the robotic as previously mentioned, process of servicing hundreds of people you have no interaction with, while keeping up with a pace in a system that does not allow for "chit-chat" or slow downs.
Your clients, knowing they are entitled to the same rights, dislikes and preferences. unfortunately
in many situations they are regarded and treated as one would a child, when a parent is in a rush
to get out in the morning and catch a bus that won't wait for you.
If institutionalized quite often their rights to govern and make choices is drowned out by the shadow of what's in their best interests by the "care givers" in charge of their daily schedule/treatment.
Code of conduct: Advocacy is not a nine to five commitment, clients in "crisis" do not generally have a choice of time frames when a situation arises and seeming leaves them in critical circumstances. You as a person, sot out in your community to help find solutions to simple or complex situations, have to remain a person of strength and strong character.
Their can be no questions with respect to your ability and your sense of fairness or integrity, if you are to carry an ugly situation to resolution. You are obligated to maintain and remain a person of unquestionable respect and honesty.
You have no right to any thing less. You will have to pick and choose your friends carefully, try to remain "arms length " from your clients and never forget that the reason you are of assistance to your clients. Try your best to avoid the many different avenues they have traveled to avoid arriving at the same place that they are at. You can not assist anyone with a problem you haven't dealt with or avoided yourself.
ie: A person who has a problem with substance abuse can not expect good advice or assistance from a person who engages in the same problem as themselves, either as an addiction or a hobby, that's a given.
"Arms length ": There will be times when you will have to avoid taking on a client and pass/refer them to someone else, or just not deal with them, the reasons are many, your choices are critical, but few. It is you obligation to read a situation or potential client and make the commitment to assist or run. Avoiding entrapment in a situation designed to enhance someone's supply of "Legal" drugs or supplement income for a money making scheme, targeting you as a shill, is quite commonplace.
You can not maintain a neutral clear oversight of a persons needs when you place yourself in a position of anything beyond "client, advocate" relationship. Nor can you except a social engagement or anything beyond a thank you. This is not a position that will or is used to enhance social networking or personal acceptance. (see a therapist)
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