Volunteer Advocate

To provide one to one advocacy support to clients by accompanying them to benefits assessments and appeals to empower them to get their point across and ensure they receive a fair hearing.

Key Duties:-

1. To encourage individuals to speak for themselves, allowing their voice to be heard and valued at health assessments with DWP.

2. To promote and encourage an individual who may be unable to speak out for him or herself in their health assessment.

3. An advocate does not have to agree with an individual, only to respect his or her views and put it across in the way the individual wishes.

4. To encourage individuals to access information to prepare them for their health assessment and to understand the process.

5. To always respect client confidentiality.

What skills do I need?

As a volunteer advocate you will represent the interests of an individual by:

• Listening to what the individual says.

• Attending health assessments with individuals.

• Not being judgmental.

• Support individuals to access options & know their rights.

• Accessing information

• Signposting individuals to appropriate agencies

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday