Independent Health and Social Care advocacy for adults
Gloucestershire County Council is making changes to the arrangements for the provision of independent advocacy services for adults in certain specific situations. Advocacy is about speaking up and empowering people to make sure that their rights are respected and their views and wishes are heard.
A new contract for independent health and social care advocacy services has been awarded so that the four different types of statutory advocacy are provided under the same contract. This means we can offer more continuity and flexibility for service users. The new contract begins on 1 August this year.
From 1st August 2017, POhWER who will provide the following services for adults:
- Independent health complaints advocacy
- Independent care act advocacy
- Independent mental capacity advocacy
- Independent mental health advocacy
POhWER is a national user-led organisation and will have a base in the county. The priority is to ensure a seamless transition for individuals using the current advocacy services to POhWER. For more information about POhWER please visit https://www.pohwer.net/.
These changes will not affect the provision of advocacy for people using drug and alcohol services which Caring for Communities and People (CCP), previously known as County Community Projects, will continue to provide.
For more information, please contact fiona.jones@gloucestershire.gov.uk 01452 328538 or Lisa.clift@gloucestershire.gov.uk on 01452328509.