Advocacy and Representation

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Advocacy and Representation In this assignment I am going to evaluate the application of the values underpinning Advocacy work and their roles and responsibilities. I will show the reasons for advocacy, the role of an advocate and the types of advocacy. I will also explain the conflicts and dilemmas of the advocacy role and their practical skills. Advocacy comes from Latin roots and means “to call to.” It is also stated that the root meaning in the word is “calling people to stand by your side.” (www.advocate-for-children.org/advocacy/laying_a.../what_is_advocacy/, no date). Advocacy is when a person is being helped to say what they want or saying it for them. It is about empowering people to speak up for themselves or making sure they are heard. Advocates should not be dependent on anyone else involved with the person needing an advocate so they can dispute for a service user’s rights without forcing them to act in a certain way by what that person thinks may be the easiest or cheapest to do. This is not always as easy, as advocates may not always recognise the feelings and needs of the person they are advocating for. It could be debated that it would be better if service users could be helped to argue their own case. This is known as self advocacy which may work well for some people, but others may need substantial help before they are able to do this. Different people may need various kinds of advocacy support (Moonie 2005). Advocacy is suggested by one such organisation, UNICEF to be “the process of managing information and knowledge strategically to change and/or influence policies and practices that affect the lives of people (particularly the disadvantaged”) (www.advocate-for-children.org/advocacy/laying_a.../what_is_advocacy/, no date). Thomas, D and

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