What is Collective Advocacy?
Advocacy is about standing up to an injustice, or addressing concerns about a particular issue. All of us find it difficult, at times, to get our voice heard about decisions or actions that affect our own lives or the lives of someone we care about, this is where advocacy is important. By meeting together to discuss common concerns or issues, carers can work together to have their voices heard and to contribute to developing policy and good practice.
News and Views Group:
News and Views is a collective advocacy group. It provides an opportunity for carers to come together to look at current issues which are important to them, to discuss these and decide how they want to move these issues forward. The group is informal and meets at Edinburgh Carers Council office at Canonmills. All carers are welcome!
Orchard Clinic Group:
This group is open to family and friends supporting those using in-patient or community-based services from the Orchard Clinic. The group currently meets at The Craiglockhart Resource Centre, (2nd floor of The Andrew Duncan Clinic), Royal Edinburgh Hospital on the last Saturday of the month, 1.30-3.30pm.
By consulting with carers we ensure their views and needs are included at all stages of the planning and implementation of mental health services in Edinburgh. Mental health carers have felt strongly that a collective voice is necessary to support and empower carers in relation to the structures, organisations, and issues which affect their lives. Edinburgh Carers Council is involved in a wide range of consultations, strategic groups and policy making forums. In recent years we have worked extensively on the issues around;
- Confidentiality and Information Sharing with carers and professional staff. Our Information Sharing policy is now written into the Operational Policies of the Primary Care Liaison Team (PCLT) and Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs).
- Working with the Scottish Recovery Network we have been raising awareness about supporting carers.
- Participated in The Mental Health Act Review process to represent carers experiences and views.
- Day Services. Edinburgh Carers Council consulted with mental health carers throughout the city to produce a report with recommendations for the review which was lead by The City of Edinburgh Council.
- Changes in Hospital provision in Edinburgh, including services provided at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and future plans for the rebuild/relocation of the hospital.
We also are involved in raising awareness of carers issues within related professions.
- Mental Health Officer training. We are working with the training officer of the East Of Scotland MHO Award Training to provide input into the training programme and involve carers in the managing and developing content of the programme.
- Mental Health Nurse training. We deliver sessions to nursing students at Napier University.
- Community Mental Health staff and Hospital staff. We offer information and training to community mental health staff through team meetings and individually.
- We regularly provide awareness raising workshops at conferences and events for both professional staff and carers.
If you think you might be interested in finding out a bit more about ways you could get involved, contact Ruth for more information. 0131 270 6087
Other useful links:
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA): gives more information on different types of advocacy and groups around Scotland.
Collective advocacy services in Edinburgh for people with mental health difficulties:
Consultation and Advocacy Promotion Service (CAPS)
