Bath and North East Somerset Council is currently reviewing the way it provides advocacy services.
Independent advocacy is concerned with maximising people’s involvement in decisions about their lives. The advocacy services currently provided meet a number of different needs including helping people understand information, express their needs and wishes, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain the care and support they need. Advocates work in partnership with the people they support and take their side.
B&NES has 7 advocacy services in place for adult social care and NHS health complaints, as well as sometimes arranging specific advocacy outside of these services, for example for residents who may be in care homes outside of B&NES . These contracts have been in place for several years and are due to expire. The council are taking this opportunity to re-examine these services and re-commission as needed to ensure that the right provision is in place.
The contracts cover the Council’s legal obligations to provide advocacy, but they also include advocacy that the Council is not legally obliged to provide. As the Council faces increasing financial pressures, we must make sure we are spending public money wisely.
We value the work of our current providers and are keen to listen to their views as we recommission. As well as this, we are keen to hear the views of people who use the services, carers and professionals who make referrals for advocacy.
The formal consultation has now commenced.
Anyone wishing to be involved should complete the survey found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BPTWW5P. This survey is aimed at people who have used /or currently use advocacy services, their families, carers or support workers.
If you support anyone who feels unable to complete the survey and would like to meet with us to discuss this face to face please contact us at LD&PSI_comms@bathnes.gov.uk and we can arrange a time to visit the service.
If you have any questions please contact LD&PSI_comms@bathnes.gov.uk