Maze Advocacy - your rights, your voice

My advocate has helped find out what is happening – we are not in the dark about half of it

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Your first meeting with an advocate

Written by one of our advocates

When I first meet with you I will talk about the role of the advocate – what an advocate will, and won’t do. I will also explain that advocates do not have a magic wand – some things may not change as a result of working with an advocate – but that I can promise that I will listen to what you say and make sure that your views are ‘heard’ by the people who you want to hear, especially if they are involved in making decisions about your life.

I will then talk with you about what you feel the issues are, how you see them and what options may be available to you and what the outcomes of particular courses of action may be.

If you wish, I will look with you at what the next steps may be. You will decide how to proceed – I will respect your choice. The advocate’s role is to make sure that your view is heard AND considered – even if they disagree with your proposed solution.

GETTING YOU INFORMATION

You may feel that before you decide what steps to take you need to know more about what your situation is, what your choices actually are or maybe about what your rights are. If I don’t know these things then I can help you find out for yourself or find out for you and report back. I will then go through what I have found with you so you can make your decision based on knowing all the facts and different point of view.

BY LETTER…

You may decide that you want to put your issues in writing. You can write it or I can write it on your behalf or just help you draft it if you like. I can take the letter to my office and type it up if you wish but I will not post it until you have checked it. I will check out a) if you still want the letter sent; b) if you want anything added, or c) if you want anything taken out.

BY PHONE…

You may decide that you would like me to contact someone on your behalf by telephone. When this happens I will not give anything away during negotiations on your behalf i.e. agree to a certain course of action etc. Until I have spoken to you about the contact I cannot know what you may want to happen.

AT MEETINGS…

I can support you in preparing for meetings; deciding what issues you want to raise and how you want that information presented at the meeting: if you want me to speak on your behalf; if you want to raise the issues yourself with me taking a supportive role; if you want the issues given to everyone as a document etc.

I will ‘check out’ with you that you understand what is being discussed and proposed as the meeting progresses. I will have talked with you about strategies for if things become difficult, e.g. if you wanted to walk out of the meeting; would you want me to go with you; would you want me to stay in the meeting and report back to you afterwards etc.

After the meeting you and I will generally have the opportunity to talk about what was just discussed and what may happen next. If decisions were made, then I could write these up and circulate these to the participants.

If you have any questions then please just ask and we will be happy to answer.