Advocacy
Independent advocacy helps people be involved in decisions about their care and support.
Independent advocates do not work for health services, social work services or care providers.
They work alongside the person they support and help make sure their voice is heard and help them:
- understand their rights
- express their views
- prepare for meetings
- ask questions
- make informed decisions
- challenge decisions if needed
- feel listened to and supported
People told us that advocacy helped them feel more confident, less alone, and better able to cope during difficult situations it can reduce isolation, build confidence, and create positive change.
It can be especially important when someone:
- feels overwhelmed or vulnerable
- is struggling with their mental health
- has communication difficulties
- has a learning disability
- is involved in legal or care processes
- feels their views are not being listened to
Individual advocacy
This is support for one person with issues affecting their own life and can include:
- mental health care
- hospital discharge
- social work meetings
- housing or benefits issues
- care planning
- guardianship or legal processes
Collective advocacy
This is support for a group of people to share experiences and improve services and can include:
- discussion groups
- lived experience panels
- influencing local planning
- helping improve services and policies
- speaking up about shared issues affecting communities
Rights to independent advocacy
Some people have legal rights to independent advocacy.
- Anyone with a mental health condition, learning disability or dementia (Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003)
- Children and young people involved in the Children’s Hearings System (Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011)
Some people may be entitled to independent advocacy during important decisions and safeguarding processes.
- Adults with Incapacity
- Adults who are being supported by Social Work as there is a concern for their safety.
Local services
- CAPS Independent Advocacy
- Adults 18-65 experiencing mental ill health (individual and collective advocacy)
- Adults 18-65 affected by drug or alcohol use (individual advocacy)
- Children and young people involved in the Children's Hearing System (individual advocacy)
- Young people 14-25 who identify as LGBTQIA+ (individual advocacy)
- Partners in Advocacy
- Adults 16+ with learning disabilities (individual advocacy).
- People First Scotland
- People with learning disabilities (collective advocacy)
- EARS Independent Advocacy Service
- Adults 65+ (individual advocacy)
- People with physical disabilities (individual advocacy).
- Who cares? Scotland
- Children and young people who have experience of the care system
Independent Advocacy Strategy 2026 to 2031
Our strategy explains how we will make independent advocacy easier to understand, easier to access, and available to the people who need it most.