Vulnerable East Ayrshire residents having greater say on services

The impact of East Ayrshire's Independence Advocacy plan has been a positive one according to a new report

Vulnerable residents are getting more a say on the services that impact them according to a progress report on East Ayrshire’s Independent Advocacy Strategic Plan.

The report, to be presented to East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) Strategic Planning and Wellbeing Delivery Group, outlines how the HSCP is working towards making advocacy more accessible for people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia, and children in care or child protection processes.

Independent advocacy ensures people can express their views and make informed choices in matters affecting their lives—especially where they may face barriers to being heard.

The report explained that the strategic approach is about embedding advocacy into services, so people can express their views about those that impact them.

The report highlights several key areas of progress:

• Child Protection : Who Cares? Scotland has prioritised advocacy support for children undergoing child protection processes. However, with only one advocacy worker in the area, the group noted concerns about capacity to support other young people, particularly those looked after at home or in residential care.
• Awareness and Referrals : A number of ‘inappropriate’ referrals to East Ayrshire Advocacy Services, showed the need for clearer information about what the service can and cannot do.
• Children’s Rights and the UNCRC : The framework has been revised to align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, reinforcing children’s voices in decision-making processes.
• Support for Autistic Individuals : Work aims to secure independent advocacy for residents at the National Autistic Society’s Daldorch facility.

The plan is overseen by a dedicated Implementation Group composed of service leaders, advocacy providers, and commissioning officers. Their role is to monitor progress and respond to emerging needs.

While the report outlines positive steps forward, it does accept that expanding the service will cost more.

The report will be considered by the East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Strategic Planning group on Monday, April 23.