Information for Professionals – Partners In Advocacy

Our Vision and Mission

VISION

A world where every person, regardless of their communication abilities, is understood, valued, and respected, leading to a fairer society.

MISSION

We champion the rights of individuals and empower them to advocate for themselves wherever possible. We collaborate and are committed to offering non-judgemental, unbiased and exceptional advocacy services. Our operations are independent of statutory employers and those with self-interest. Our goal is to bridge communication barriers and foster open dialogue and understanding for all. We firmly believe in the power of every voice, ensuring that no one goes unheard, and every need is addressed.

Partners in Advocacy provides quality independent advocacy services across Scotland. We support a range of different people, including:

Children and Young People
Adults with a range of additional support needs, including learning disability, autism and physical disability
Adult Carers (Highland)
Adults affected by substance use (Highland)

For more detailed information about our services across Scotland, click here.

We deliver independent advocacy according to the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance’s (SIAA’s) Principles, Standards and Code of Best Practice 2019 Independent Advocacy Principles, Standards & Code of Best Practice – Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (siaa.org.uk) and are full members of the SIAA.

Commissioners and Funders

Our independent advocacy services are funded via Scottish Government, Local Authorities, NHS, and HSCP commissioning. We are also grant-funded by other funding bodies, including Corra.

Partners in Advocacy Annual Reports

Please click here to access our Annual Reports.

Independent Advocacy in legislation

Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

The Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Part 17, Chapter 2, Section 259) identifies that every person with a mental disorder (as defined under section 328 of the Act) has a right to independent advocacy. The Act places a duty on local authorities and the NHS to ensure that such services are available.

Partners in Advocacy provides independent advocacy for children, young people and adults affected by the Mental Health Act in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Adult Support & Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

The Adult Support & Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (Section 6) states that if a council considers that it needs to intervene in order to protect an adult at risk from harm, they must have regard to the importance of the provision of appropriate services (including, in particular, independent advocacy services) to the adult concerned.

Partners in Advocacy provides independent advocacy to adults affected by the Act in Edinburgh and Lothians.

Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011

Section 122 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 makes provision for the Chairing Panel member to inform any child attending a hearing of the availability of advocacy services to support them to have their views heard and rights respected.

Partners in Advocacy provides independent advocacy for children and young people going through the Children’s Hearings System in Dundee, Edinburgh, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended)

This legislation makes provision for 12–15-year-olds across Scotland to access independent advocacy support to have their views heard and respected, and to request additional support in their education.

Partners in Advocacy provides the independent advocacy service as part of My Rights, My Say

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the internationally mandated, cross-government children’s rights framework. The UNCRC was ratified by the UN in 1991. Article 2 of the UNCRC states that rights ‘should be applied without discrimination’ Article 12 of the UNCRC states that a child has ‘the right to express a view and to have that view taken into account’. Following Royal Assent in January 2024, the UNCRC will become law on 16^th July 2024, and most provisions will be incorporated at this time.

Partners in Advocacy promotes, upholds and defends the rights of children through its work.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

The Convention ensures that the world’s largest minority enjoys the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. It covers the many areas where persons with disabilities have been discriminated against including access to justice; participation in political and public life; education; employment; freedom from torture, exploitation and violence, as well as freedom of movement.

Partners in Advocacy promotes, upholds and defends the rights of disabled people through its work.

Human Rights Act 1998

Everyone, everywhere, has basic rights and freedoms which we need to live together with dignity based on our common humanity. These human rights are secured in law. The law applies to everyone equally and provides an important means of protection for the most vulnerable in our communities, including those who use advocacy services, by setting out the duties owed by those responsible for upholding human rights and the outcomes people are entitled to expect as a matter of right.

There are some underlying principles which are of fundamental importance in applying a human rights-based approach in practice. These are: Participation, Accountability, Non-discrimination, Equality and Empowerment, and Legality. Together these are known as the PANEL principles.

Partners in Advocacy promotes, upholds and defends the human rights of all people through its work.

If you are interested in commissioning or spot-purchasing our independent advocacy services, please contact us at admin@pia.scot or telephone 0330 533 0238.