| Title |
Independent Advocacy Strategic Plan 2024-2027 |
| Lead officer(s) |
Danielle Rae - Service Manager, Planning and Performance |
| Telephone number |
|
| Email address |
danielle.rae@east-ayrshire.gov.uk |
| Date summary created |
26 Mar 2024 |
| Date assessment completed |
26 Mar 2024 |
| Summary of policy aims |
The Independent Advocacy Strategic Plan 2024-2027 for East Ayrshire (‘the Plan') sets out our shared ambitions for improving opportunities for everyone in our communities to have their voices heard. |
| Key issues |
The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 imposed a duty on local authorities and health boards to collaborate to ensure the availability of independent advocacy services in their area. The Act gave everyone with mental illness, learning disability, dementia and related conditions the right to access independent advocacy support.
The Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015 builds on the right in the 2003 Act to independent advocacy support, by requiring health boards and local authorities to tell the Mental Welfare Commission how they have ensured access to services up to now, and how they plan to do so in the future. The duty in East Ayrshire is taken forward by East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. |
| Summary of involvement with Groups |
The views and experiences of people using advocacy services and carers were essential to the development of this Plan. The methods used to gather views included: Market-stall feedback at East Ayrshire Advocacy Service Annual Conference 2023, online and paper survey and offer of one to one interviews and discussion group to be facilitated by Partnership Engagement Officer. |
| Key recommendations |
The Independent Advocacy Strategic Plan to be approved covering the period 2024 to 2027. Progress of the Plan will be monitored through the Strategic Planning Group. |