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Forth Valley Advocacy .....
Types of Issues We Can Support
Forth Valley Advocacy is an independent organisation that provides advocacy to individuals who experience mental ill health and to anyone over the age of 65 throughout the Forth Valley.
Forth Valley Advocacy aims to provide people with information, choice, support and representation. Our goal is to support the people we work with to have influence over decisions that effect their lives by ensuring their views and opinions are heard and respected.
Our workers are divided by the three local authorities within the Forth Valley: Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.
Staff working in the Stirling and Falkirk areas, the administration team, volunteer coordinator and management are based at the Head office: 1 the Bungalows Larbert, FK5 4SZ.
Staff working in the Clackmannanshire area are based at The Advocacy Place, King Street, Alloa FK10 1LA.
Board of Directors |
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Senior Advocacy Worker |
Manager |
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Advocacy Worker Older People (Full Time) Forth Valley Wide
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Advocacy Worker Older People (Full Time) Stirling & Rurals |
Volunteer Co-ordinator (Full Time) Forth Valley Wide |
Advocacy Worker Mental Health (Full Time) Falkirk |
Advocacy Worker Mental Health & Older People (Full Time) Clackmannanshire |
Advocacy Worker Mental Health (Part Time) Stirling |
Advocacy Worker Mental Health (Full Time) Stirling |
Office Manager |
Administrator |
What types of issues can Forth Valley Advocacy offer support with?
The types of issues that we offer support with are wide ranging.
Here are a few examples:
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
- Mental Health Tribunals
- Advanced Statements
- Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
- Guardianship
- Power of Attorney
- Support to prepare for meetings/ appointments.
- Support to attend meetings / appointments.
- Support speaking to professionals (E.G. Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Care Providers etc.)
- Help find out information for you.
- Help you to know your rights.
- Support you to give feedback on treatment you have received.
- Support you to make complaints.
- Employment
- Legal issues.
What can Forth Valley Advocacy not do for me?
One of the most important things to know about advocacy is that we do not give advice. Advocacy is about supporting you to make your own decisions and choices not telling you what you should do.
Issues that we can not offer support with include:
- Benefits
- Debt
If you refer yourself or someone else to our service for an issue that is beyond our remit we will try to sign post you to a more appropriate organisation.
How / who to refer to Forth Valley Advocacy?
Forth Valley Advocacy has an open access referral policy. People can self-refer direct to the service. Referrals are also accepted from carers, relatives and professionals involved in the care of individuals.
To refer someone with a mental health issue or someone over the age of 65 living in the Stirling or Falkirk Area please call 01324 557070.
To refer someone with a mental health issue or someone over the age of 65 living in the Clackmannanshire area please call the advocacy place 01259 722257.
Along with our employed advocacy workers, Forth Valley Advocacy also recruits and trains volunteer advocates.
Why does Forth Valley Advocacy need volunteers if they have employed advocates?
Our employed advocacy workers respond to complex situations. The relationship ends when the specific issue is resolved so that new cases can be taken on. This highlighted a need for many people to have longer-term support because a client could be:
- Isolated and to some extent, institutionalized.
- Lacking a trusted relative or friend who helps them communicate with others.
- Vulnerable and less able to express their needs and wishes at the heights of their illness or with their advancing years.
If you would like more information on our volunteer service or you would like to become a volunteer with Forth Valley Advocacy please contact our Volunteer Coordinator on 01324 557070.
If you would like to find out more about Advocacy or the service that Forth Valley Advocacy provides our team can provide free talks and training. To enquire about arranging talks or training please contact us at our Larbert office on 01324 557070 or The Advocacy Place on 01259 722257.