Empowering
Advocates should always support the service user to be heard.
Advocates should either support service users to speak for
themselves, or (if the service user is not able to do this)
represent the service user’s views as if they were their own.
Withdrawal of service
BAMHAG operates within an equal opportunities framework and
reserves the right to withdraw services from individuals who are
behaving in a way that is discriminatory. Also we will not accept
behaviour that endangers, intimidates or threatens those who
work within BAMHAG. Further information can be provided and
we will always inform you of our reasons for withdrawing a service
from you.
Feedback and Complaints
BAMHAG are happy to receive feedback from people who have
used our services. We acknowledge that there may be occasions
when people will be unhappy with the service they receive from
us. A copy of our complaints procedure can be obtained by
contacting our Bradford office.
Further Information
If you require any further information about our service or the
way we work please feel contact us, alternatively if you are a
service user and / or carer you can write to us using our freepost
address:
Freepost NEA994
BAMHAG
First Floor The Tradeforce Building
Cornwall Place
Bradford
BD8 7 JT
1155071
Your advocate is:
Your advocate can be contacted at:
First Floor
The Tradeforce Building
Cornwall Place
Bradford
BD8 7JT
01274 770 118
01274 201 859
Independent and User-led Mental Health Advocacy
Your Advocate is completely independent from anyone at health or
social services. The Advocacy Service is free and confidential, and
we take our instructions from service users only. We will not discuss with third parties information unless requested to do so by the
service user.
We believe that service users have a right to advocacy support and
we will promote self advocacy. This means that the project
provides information and support to enable the user to express
their own informed opinions and wishes.
BAMHAG has provided a user-led, independent and confidential
mental health advocacy service since 1989.
"SPEAKING UP WITH SERVICE USERS"
What you can expect from your advocate
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Your advocate can:
If you agree that the advocate will do some work with you
then your advocate will maintain a written record, and open
a file. You can ask to see, or have copies of this information
at any time.
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listen to how you feel
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Speak up for you or help you to speak up for yourself
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Arrange meetings for you and come to them with you
Your advocate will work on your behalf and will only speak to
doctors, nurses, social workers and other professionals if
you agree and only take action that you have agreed to.
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Help you to write letters
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Help you to find other organisations that can also help you
Information you share with your advocate will remain
confidential and not disclosed outside of BAMHAG unless
you agree.
Your advocate will keep the things you say between the two
of you. Information is kept confidential and your advocate
will not tell other people what you have said or how you feel
unless you agree.
Advocates should not promise more than they can deliver
and will encourage realistic expectations and deliver
realistic timescales.
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Advocates should declare any conflict of interests and
refer to another advocate if appropriate.
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The advocate will not make decisions or choices on behalf of
the service user, but should enable service users to make
informed choices. Advocates will not impose their personal
views and will work at the service user's own pace.
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Advocates will treat all service users with dignity and
respect at all times.
Things you advocate cannot do:
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Advocates should not give or receive gifts, nor will they
lend money. Advocates will not hold service users' money or
valuables.
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Your advocate cannot tell you what to do but can give you
information about your options and talk things through with
you.
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Your advocate may not be able to get exactly what you want
but will be able to make sure your of view has been heard.
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Your advocate cannot take the place of a health or legal
professional.
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Your advocate is unable to keep information confidential
when they have reason to believe that your well-being or
the well-being of someone else is seriously threatened but
will try to discuss this with you. Also your advocate is unable to keep information confidential when non-disclosure
can result in criminal proceedings being taken against BAMHAG – eg. contravention of the Mental Health Act