Sometimes people find it difficult to express concerns about their
treatment or care while they are in hospital. It can be particularly
difficult if you are on a ‘section’ or if this is
your first time in hospital. However, you have the right to be
heard; your opinions should be listened to be the professional
staff.
At
Mind in Croydon we believe that advocacy is about:
- Raising user’s participation
- Redressing the balance of power
- Being included in the decision-making
process
- Being treated equally
- Challenging assumptions
- Protection from abuse.
An
advocate can help you either by supporting you when wish to voice
your concerns or by representing your concerns if you feel unable
to do so. The Advocacy Service operates independently of the mental
health service. You will be listened to and treated with respect.
It offers you the opportunity to talk to someone in confidence
about issues relating to your treatment.
How
does it work?
Advocates
work as instructed by the client. We therefore work differently
according to the needs and wishes of individual clients. Some
common examples of advocacy work include:
- Listening to you and helping you decide
what your own objectives are
- Helping you have your voice heard.
- Supporting you, at ward rounds and Care
Programme Approach meetings.
- Supporting you when discussing your
treatment plan with your doctors and nurses or social workers.
- Providing clear information about rights,
medication and any aspect of treatment while in hospital.
- Supporting you in gaining legal advice
and representation if necessary.
We
are available both to hospital
inpatients and to people living
in the community who may be suffering from mental health problems.
Apart
from general advocacy we also provide assistance with formal complaints.
You do not need to decide whether you want to make a complaint
before you approach Mind in Croydon’s Advocacy Service –
this is one of the options which we can discuss with you.
Mind
in Croydon Parenting Advocacy Service
This
is a new service funded by the King's Fund for 3 years.
It is offered to parents or people in parental roles suffering
with mental health problems.
Sometimes
parents find it difficult to express their concerns about themselves
or their family, particularly if their role as a parent is affected
by their mental health problem.
The
mental health advocate works in the same way as the general advocate
but deals with issues arising from the clients parental role.
- The
role is to accompany parents to appointments such as Social
Services Department both Children's & Families and Community
Mental Health Teams (CMHT), Court Proceedings and Solicitors.
- Liaise
with outside agencies which include: Social Services (Children
& Families and Mental Health) Child & Adolescent Mental
Health Service (CAMHS), Croydon Housing Advice Society (CHAS), Women's
Service, Bethlem Hospital (Mother & Baby Unit), Tamworth
Road (Mother & Baby Team), GP, Home Start, Oak Avenue Project,
Sure Start, Welcare, Solicitors, Education Departments,
Schools and Croydon Council.
Although
the Bethlem Hospital Unit is provided to mothers out of the Croydon
Borough, our parenting advocate worker will be able to work
with them while they are in-patients and help them access services
in their areas when they are discharged.
How
do I apply for advocacy support?
Application
is by referral. You can refer yourself, or friends and family,
health workers, and voluntary organisations can make referrals
on your behalf. Whoever makes the referral it is of course up
to you to decide whether you want advocacy support. Simply contact
us direct. The office is usually staffed Monday to Friday
between 9:30am and 4:30pm. Please call 020 8763 6730. If
no-one is available to take your call, please leave a message
and we will get back to you.
Parenting Advocacy Service - Useful
Links and Contact Info.
-Children's
Information Service
-Croydon
Parent Partnership Service
-Family
Rights Group
-Parentline
Plus
-Home
- ParentsCentre
Childrens Information
Services
Various
information, advice & suppoert services for children
0845
11 11 100
Croydon
Family Groups
Advice
and support for families for children under five
020
8686 7490 |
