General / Non Statutory
Non statutory advocacy is sometime called general advocacy, means there is no legal framework that governs the role unlike IMCA, IMHA or Care Act Advocacy but it is equally important. Non statutory advocacy supports individuals whose issues full outside of the advocacy provided under specific legislation.
DAD can provides a range of general advocacy on a range of issues for disabled people, older people, people with mental health needs and carers. We also support people who are victims of any type of Hate Crime.
More specifically DAD provide:
- Specialist Mental Health advocacy for people who live in Darlington, have an identified mental health need and need advocacy support to get the right support and treatment in their lives.
- Advocacy for people who are victims of crime who have a mental health need.
- Advocacy for people who are victims of Hate Crime.
- Advocacy for people who have a learning disability and Autistic people. People using this might like some advocacy support to weigh up their options, understand their rights and be able to communicate what they want. Examples of what people have asked for support with are housing, support planning, understanding benefits, explaining to professionals how best to communicate with them, talking to care providers and getting information about hospital appointments.
An advocate can support you with a specific issue and is time limited, and help ensure your voice heard and rights upheld. The advocate will develop an advocacy plan / journey with you, including what you hope to achieve and how you will be supported to have voice heard. This might include supporting to attend meetings, make phone calls, understand information, write letter or make a complaint or challenge a decision.
Unfortunately advocacy support does not always lead to the issue being resolved in the manner that you wish, but an advocate will be your partner along the journey and help ensure your views and wishes are listened to, help you understand information and support you to consider your options are.
How you can support us
As a local organisation we very much rely on the support of our local community. We support over 2,000 people every year to have greater choice and control and remove the barriers that disabled adults and children experience in their everyday lives. But we need YOUR help.