Advocacy Focus has been re-commissioned as Lancashire’s advocacy provider, securing the Lancashire wide Advocacy Hub contract.

Accrington based charity, Advocacy Focus, will continue to deliver its high quality statutory advocacy services for another three years, and will now add non-statutory advocacy services and the Single Point of Contact (SPoC) to its offering. (More on this below).

Advocacy helps people to become more involved in important decisions about their health and social care and live the lives they want to live. The contract, commissioned by Lancashire County Council, was previously delivered by two advocacy organisations, but all services will now be provided by Advocacy Focus. This will offer people more straightforward access to advocacy services.

Justine Hodgkinson, CEO of Advocacy Focus, says: “We are delighted to retain this contract once more and will soon be delivering the full range of advocacy services across Lancashire.”

“Since securing the statutory advocacy contract in 2016, we have grown considerably as an organisation, expanded our team by over a third, celebrated our 20th anniversary and supported over 10,000 people with high quality independent advocacy. It’s been an extremely successful – and very busy - three years!”

Statutory advocacy refers to advocacy that is required by law. Non-statutory advocacy also known as ‘generic’ advocacy is a preventative approach that many local authorities don’t provide funding for.  However, it is a service that can make a significant difference to people when dealing with health and social care services, and enables people to take control of their own care and treatment, with a focus on self-advocacy and the empowerment of individuals.

Justine explains: “The Single Point of Contact will be the gateway into Advocacy Focus and we will adopt a ‘tell us once’ approach.  This will act as a central point of contact for all advocacy enquiries; providing information and advice and will connect people with experienced Independent Advocates who will listen, triage a person’s needs, take referrals and where necessary signpost to other services to offer a holistic approach.”

Advocacy Focus will be providing all of these services from 1st August 2019 and as a result of this, will create several more job opportunities will be provided for Lancashire people.

Justine finishes: “We are delighted to continue working with Lancashire County Council and look forward to enabling real change for people in our communities.  We have a passion and a commitment to looking after Lancashire and over the next three years our team will do just that.”

Although the services are commissioned by Lancashire County Council, Advocacy Focus works independently from local authorities and health and social care services and in the best interest of the person. 

In anticipation of the new Lancashire Advocacy Hub starting on 1st August, Advocacy Focus will be holding three Advocacy Open Days across Lancashire where members of the public and health or social care professionals can find out more. See poster for details.

To find out more about Advocacy Focus or to view their latest vacancies, visit www.advocacyfocus.org.uk.