Anglia Care Trust

Advice, Guidance and Advocacy – helping people to be heard

These services provide the opportunity for vulnerable individuals with the community to be seen, heard and have access to justice.

Advice and Guidance Services

The main areas which our service users identify as a particularly high priority are debt/money advice as well as training and employment advice.

As a member of Advice UK, Anglia Care Trust provides independent advice services.

Money Advice – This service works on 3 levels;

• Delivery of high level case work, directly supporting individuals and families with significant money advice/debt concerns
• Raising awareness of money/debt issues, it’s impact and enabling people to take positive action
• Building on the guidance given and offering mentoring support to help people embed financial learning in their own home.

Employment Advice – This service provides assistance to individuals wanting to gain paid employment. To achieve this aim we support service users in the following areas:

• Developing confidence and self esteem
• Building CVs
• Disclosure of offences
• Liaising with and referring to learning and training providers.

h3. Appropriate Adult Scheme

The role of the Appropriate Adult was implemented under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). It was introduced to strengthen fairness and reliability of confessional evidence; particularly for those identified as vulnerable – juveniles (under the age of 17) and adults believed to be suffering from mental health issues or a learning disability.

The purpose of the Appropriate Adult is to:

• Advise detainees of their rights and ensure those right are being upheld
• Observe the interview to ensure it is being conducted fairly – intervening if necessary
• Facilitate good communication between all parties
• Ensure welfare needs are being met and that detainees are safeguarded whilst in police custody

h3. Mentoring Offering one to one mentoring support, the service offers vulnerable individuals, particularly young people, the opportunity to have a mentor to support and guide them aiming to:

• Reduce offending and/or anti-social behaviour through involvement in positive activities
• Raise awareness to the consequences of risk taking behaviours
• Build the resilience of and provide support to vulnerable individuals (reducing the risk of exposure to abusive situations and improving life chances)
• Reduce the gap between disadvantaged young people and their peers by funding sustainable activities
• Support individuals to develop positive relationships.

The support is delivered by trained volunteers, over an agreed period. Days and times are flexible to meet the needs of the young people.

Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service

Providing assistance and support to “Looked after Children” and “Children in Need”. All Looked after Children should, under Section 26A of the Children Act 1989, be offered the chance to have an Independent Visitor and/or an Advocate should they wish to have one.

Advocates safeguard children and young people, protecting them from abuse and poor practice. The functions of the advocate include:

• Supporting young people to make their wishes and feelings known and ensuring that they are taken into consideration
• Providing unbiased information to young people to enable them to make informed decisions
• Making sure young people’s rights are upheld and they are being treated fairly
• Supporting young people to deal with conflict and anxiety, constructively and effectively.

The Independent Visitor’s role contributes to the welfare of “Looked after Children” and “Children in Need” and comprises of visiting, advising and befriending. Specific tasks vary according to the needs and wishes of the individual young person.

Suffolk Advocacy Forum

Anglia Care Trust’s role is to host, facilitate and further develop an inclusive and independent Forum. The Forum is open to all individuals who have an interest in advocacy and promoting its development in Suffolk. They may, for example, be involved in the provision of advocacy services; have a professional interest in advocacy due to their work role; be looking to develop their knowledge; have used advocacy services and have experience or expertise relevant to the Forum.

The purpose of the Forum includes:

• The exchange of information about new initiatives, local and national advocacy developments
• Promoting good practice in advocacy across Suffolk
• Focusing on wider networks with local communities
• To design and provide accessible advocacy training for those interested in knowing more about advocacy.

The Forum is in the process of setting up its new website, details to follow soon. In the meantime, for more information about its members please click on the link below.

Suffolk Advocacy Forum Directory