19497 28-Jun-16 1 of 4 PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES Describe advocacy in social service work level: 3 credit: 3 planned review date: June 2006 sub-field: Social Services replacement information: This unit standard replaces unit standard 7999. purpose: People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the concept of advocacy in social service work; describe the components of effective advocacy in social service work; and describe the components of an effective advocacy plan in social service work. entry information: Open. accreditation option: Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry. moderation option: A centrally established and directed national moderation system has been set up by Community Support Services ITO Limited (Careerforce). special notes: 1 People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to outline the meaning of the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to social service work, and are able to apply this competence to the context of assessment for this unit standard (for further clarification, please refer to Unit 19408, Outline the meaning and relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in social service work). New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 19497 28-Jun-16 2 of 4 PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES Describe advocacy in social service work 2 Glossary An advocate is defined as someone who is speaking or acting for themselves or on behalf of others regarding a particular issue. Self-advocacy is speaking or acting on behalf of oneself regarding a particular issue. Service user is used as a generic term to denote people from user groups of the social services. They may be referred to by various descriptive terms in the range of social services settings. Systemic advocacy is advocacy that aims to change systems, attitudes, policies, and laws that impact on service users' lives. Elements and Performance Criteria element 1 Describe the concept of advocacy in social service work. performance criteria 1.1 The description outlines the different focuses of the role of an advocate in the social services. Range: 1.2 focuses - individual, group, family or whānau advocacy; systemic advocacy. The description outlines different advocacy strategies in the social services. Range: advocacy strategy – self advocacy; lobbying; negotiation; private and public meetings; public events and demonstrations; letters; petitions; submissions; use of news media; presentations. Evidence is required of four advocacy strategies. New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 19497 28-Jun-16 3 of 4 PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES Describe advocacy in social service work 1.3 The description outlines the significance of partnership in advocacy in terms of its advantages to the advocate and the person(s) being advocated for. 1.4 The description outlines the significance of self-advocacy in terms of its primary importance in any advocacy situation. element 2 Describe the components of effective advocacy in social service work. performance criteria 2.1 The description outlines the personal characteristics required for effective advocacy. Range: 2.2 The description outlines the interpersonal communication skills required for effective advocacy. Range: 2.3 personal characteristics required for effective advocacy may include but are not limited to - minimal conflict of interest, supportive, ongoing commitment, commitment to partnership, clear values, vigour of action, cultural appropriateness. Evidence is required of four personal characteristics. interpersonal communication skills - listening, problem solving, assertion, negotiation, networking. The description outlines the practical skills required for effective advocacy. Range: practical skills - accessing and assessing information and resources; networking; conflict resolution; identifying and assessing risk. New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 19497 28-Jun-16 4 of 4 PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES Describe advocacy in social service work element 3 Describe the components of an effective advocacy plan in social service work. performance criteria 3.1 The description outlines the components of an effective advocacy plan in terms of their contribution to the objectives of the plan. Range: components of an effective advocacy plan – agreed objectives, steps, resources, timeframes, people responsible, the roles of the people responsible. Comments to: Careerforce PO Box 2637 Wellington 6140 Please Note: Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority before they can offer programmes of education and training assessed against unit standards. Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0222] New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016