Your life and support · England
Advocacy and speaking up
Finding independent help and having your views heard.
38 guides to choose from.
38 guides in this topic.
No guides found. Try another word, or clear the box to see all guides.
Finding advocacy
AdvocacyHelp to understand and speak up
This guide explains different types of advocacy. Advocacy means support to understand your choices and have your views heard.
AdvocacyFind an advocate or group near me
Find an advocate or a self-advocacy group in your area.
AdvocacyHelping each other speak up
Advocacy means support to understand choices and have your views heard. Peer advocacy is help from someone with similar experiences.
AdvocacyHelp with care decisions
The Care Act is a law about care and support. It gives some people a right to an independent advocate.
Having a say and planning support
Communication & sensesContacting a service
Get past contact barriers and keep your message in your own control.
Rights & choicesLearning Disability Pride and speaking up together
Learning Disability Pride celebrates people with learning disabilities. You can choose how you join in.
Rights & choicesCampaigns and making change
A campaign brings people together to ask for change. You can choose how to take part.
Care & supportHelp to arrange your support
Find help to arrange support while keeping your choices.
Care & supportLearning about good support with SCIE
Find information, training and research about good support.
Care & supportLearning about good support
Ben Drew started Open Future Learning. It has videos and courses about supporting people.
Complaints and challenging decisions
Rights & choicesWhen a service treats you unfairly
Shops, banks and other services should be accessible. You can ask for help with disability-related barriers.
Rights & choicesYour local NHS board
Your area has an integrated care board. People call it the ICB.
Rights & choicesTaking your complaint to an ombudsman
An ombudsman is an independent complaints service. It can look at some complaints that remain unresolved.
Rights & choicesAsk your MP for help
MP means Member of Parliament. Your MP represents the area where you live.
Rights & choicesSeeing your records
Ask to see your records and get help to correct mistakes.
Rights & choicesGetting information about you
Get information held about you and challenge mistakes or missing records.
Rights & choicesAsking public bodies for information
Ask public bodies for recorded information about policies, spending and decisions.
AdvocacyGetting advocacy that works for you
This guide is for adults in England. An advocate helps you be heard when dealing with services.
Care & supportComplain about adult social care
This guide is about adult social care in England. A complaint tells a service that something has gone wrong.
Care & supportWhen you disagree about CHC
CHC means NHS Continuing Healthcare. It can pay for some adults’ care. You can challenge a decision you disagree with.
Care & supportWhat is the CQC?
CQC is short for Care Quality Commission. This guide is about England.
Money & rightsGetting ready for a benefits appeal
Prepare evidence, ask for adjustments, understand the hearing and follow up the decision.
Money & rightsI want more say about my money
Ask for more control or report problems with an appointee, attorney, deputy or informal helper.
Specialist and statutory advocacy
Rights & choicesRestrictions at home or in supported living
This guide is for adults in England. You can ask for help to question restrictions on your freedom.
AdvocacyHelp when you cannot make an important decision
An independent mental capacity advocate is often called an IMCA. This guide is about people aged 16 and over.
AdvocacyHelp with your mental health rights
An independent mental health advocate is often called an IMHA. An IMHA helps you understand your rights and explain your wishes.
AdvocacyHelp to complain about NHS care
The NHS provides health services. You can get free advocacy help with a complaint about care paid for by the NHS.
AdvocacyHelp when care limits your freedom
This guide explains support to understand and question restrictions on your freedom. Different rules apply in different places.
AdvocacyHelp for children and young people to speak up
Your views matter when people make plans about your life. You can ask for help to explain what you want.
Police, court and hospital support
Rights & choicesAgreeing an access plan for a meeting or conference
Ask for the changes you need before the meeting. Write down what the organiser agrees to arrange.
Rights & choicesGetting help from a solicitor
A solicitor gives legal advice. They can help explain your choices and rights.
Rights & choicesHelp to communicate in court
Court words and questions can be difficult. You can ask for communication support.
Rights & choicesHelp with immigration and visas
Immigration rules cover entering and staying in the UK. This guide explains help for people living in England.
Rights & choicesA Community Treatment Order (CTO)
A Community Treatment Order is called a CTO. This information is about England.
Planning & supportCTR and CETR: a review of your care
CTR means Care and Treatment Review. CETR means Care, Education and Treatment Review. A CETR also looks at education.
HealthA nurse who helps with hospital support
This information is about hospitals in England. Ask about the learning disability liaison nurse.
Safety & safeguardingIf you are arrested
This guide is about being arrested in England. Being arrested does not mean you are guilty. You can ask for help to understand what is happening.
Safety & safeguardingGetting support in prison and on probation
Know who can help with care, communication and returning to the community.
Find support that works for you
Different advocacy services have different rules. Ask which service can help with your situation.