DK2Y 04 (HSC410)Advocate with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, carers,

groups and communities

Elements of competence

HSC410.1 / Assess whether you should act as an advocate for the individual, family, carer, group and community
HSC410.2 / Assist individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to access independent advocacy
HSC410.3 / Advocate for, and with, individuals, families, carers, groups and communities

About this Unit

For this Unit you have to make decisions about whether you should act as an advocate for individuals, families, carers, groups and communities, access independent advocacy where this is more appropriate and act as an advocate yourself.

Scope

The scope is here to give you guidance on possible areas to be covered in this unit. For this Unit you need to:

  • work with situations of differing levels of complexity
  • work with situations where a range of support needs have to be addressed
  • work holistically with service users and carers
  • work directly as an advocate and when individuals, families, carers, groups and communities are referred to an independent advocate
  • transfer and apply knowledge, skills and values to new and unfamiliar contexts

Evidence Requirements for the Unit

It is essential that you adhere to the Evidence Requirements for this Unit – please see details overleaf.

SPECIFIC Evidence Requirements for this unit

Simulation:
  • Simulation is NOT permitted for any part of this unit.

The following forms of evidence ARE mandatory:
  • Direct Observation: Your assessor or an expert witness must observe you in real work activities which provide a significant amount of the performance criteria for most of the elements in this unit. For example your assessor or another professional will be present as you represent or advocate for an individual, family or group and will be able to comment on your ability to represent their needs and wishes.
  • Reflective Account/professional discussion: You should describe your actions in a particular situation and explain why you did things. For example you could write about the advocacy skills you used, explaining how your knowledge of relevant social science theory informed the planning for your work, how you ensured that your case was well prepared and took account of the needs and wishes of all those involved.

Competence of performance and knowledge could also be demonstrated using a variety of evidence from the following:
  • Questioning/professional discussion: May be used to provide evidence of knowledge, legislation, policies and procedures which cannot be fully evidenced through direct observation or reflective accounts. In addition the assessor/expert witness may also ask questions to clarify aspects of your practice.
  • Expert Witness: A designated expert witness may provide direct observation of practice, questioning, professional discussion and feedback on reflective accounts.
  • Witness Testimony: Can be a confirmation or authentication of the activities described in your evidence which your assessor has not seen. This could be provided by a work colleague, individual(s) or key people.
  • Products: These can be any record that you would use within your normal role e.g. Policies and procedures and reports and records, etc.
You need not put confidential records in your portfolio; they can remain where they are normally stored and be checked by your assessor and internal verifier. If you do include them in your portfolio all names and identifying information must be removed to ensure confidentiality.
These may also be assignments/projects: For example from HNC, O.U. courses. You could also use evidence of previous in-house training courses/programmes you have completed showing professional development.
GENERAL GUIDANCE
  • Prior to commencing this unit you should agree and complete an assessment plan with your assessor which details the assessment methods you will be using, and the tasks you will be undertaking to demonstrate your competence.
  • Evidence must be provided for ALL of the performance criteria ALL of the knowledge and the parts of the scope that are relevant to your job role.
  • The evidence must reflect the policies and procedures of your workplace and be linked to current legislation, values and the principles of best practice within the Care Sector. This will include the National Service Standards for your areas of work and the individuals you care for.
  • All evidence must relate to your own work practice.

Knowledge specification for this unit

Competent practice is a combination of the application of skills and knowledge informed by values and ethics. This specification details the knowledge and understanding required to carry out competent practice in the performance described in this unit.

When using this specification it is important to read the knowledge requirements in relation to expectations and requirements of your job role.

You need to provide evidence for ALL knowledge points listed below. There are a variety of ways this can be achieved so it is essential that you read the ‘knowledge evidence’ section of the Assessment Guidance.

You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in practice: / Enter Evidence Numbers
Values
1Awareness of your own values, prejudices, ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest and their implications on your practice.
2Respect for, and the promotion of:
(a)each person as an individual
(b)independence and quality of life for individuals, whilst protecting them from harm
(c)dignity and privacy of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities
3Recognise and facilitate each person’s use of the language and form of communication of their choice.
4Value, recognise and respect the diversity, expertise and experience of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities.
5Maintain the trust and confidence of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities by communicating in an open, accurate and understandable way.
6Understand, and make use of, strategies to challenge discrimination, disadvantage and other forms of inequality and injustice.
7Policies on diversity, discrimination and promoting independence/autonomy of adults, children, families, groups and communities, and research on their effectiveness.
8Theories about the impact of discrimination, and methods of working with diversity.
Legislation and organisational policy and procedures
9Current local UK legislation statutory codes, standards, frameworks and guidance relevant to health and social care practice and related fields, including multi-disciplinary and multi-organisational practice, data protection and confidentiality of information.
10Social policy, including policy on social care, criminal justice, education, health, housing, welfare rights.
11International law and social policy, in broad terms, for the purpose of comparison.
12Organisational structures, policies and procedures for advocacy.
13Policies, procedures and legal requirements for the security and confidentiality of information.
You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in practice: / Enter Evidence Numbers
Theory and practice
14Demographic and social trends.
15Theories of poverty, unemployment, health, impairment and other sources of discrimination and disadvantage and their impact on social exclusion.
16Understanding of why people use health and social care services.
17Psychological and sociological explanations of:
(a)human growth and development and the factors that impact on it
(b)mental health and well-being
(c)social interactions and relationships
(d)discrimination and oppression
(e)human behaviour
18Knowledge of the range of local, and appropriate national, resources and services.
19Theories about how systems work.
20How to access and use information and communications technology (ICT) and other electronic systems that may help in the collection of information.
21Theories about the impact of authority and power in the worker’s role.
22Theories and methods about working with the main groups of people using services. These include children, mental health, learning difficulties, older people, minority and ethnic groups, drug and alcohol use, disability and impairment.
23Principles, theories and methods of advocacy.
24Principles, theories and methods of empowerment.
25Principles about balancing the rights of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities with the interests of society and the requirements of practice.
26Approaches to presenting evidence and information in different formats and for different audiences.
27Lessons learned from both serious failure of service and practice, and from successful interventions.
28Approaches to evidence and knowledge based practice.
29Theories of organisations, group behaviour and organisational change.
30Theories and methods of promoting personal, social and emotional well-being.

HSC410.1Assess whether you should act as an advocate for the individual, family, carer, group and community

Performance criteria
DO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You discuss, with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities, the issues the advocacy will address and the outcomes sought.
2You assess and identify the most appropriate types of advocacy to meet the needs, situation and circumstances.
3You discuss and clarify:
(a)the individual’s, family’s, carer’s, group’s and community’s rights to use you or access independent advocacy
(b)legal and organisational policies and procedures that might affect your decision to act as an advocate
(c)your ability, and that of others, to advocate on behalf of the individual, family, carer, group and community
4You assess:
(a)the needs, situation and circumstances
(b)past experiences that might affect your role as a potential advocate

HSC410.2Assist individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to access independent advocacy

Performance criteria
DO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You support individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to identify, assess and access independent advocacy.
2You contribute to a database of advocates with the expertise to represent individuals, families, carers, groups and communities.
3You work with people requiring advocacy to:
(a)use information to select the most appropriate advocate or advocacy service
(b)clarify their own role in accessing independent advocacy
4You access and brief advocates with, and on behalf of, those requiring independent advocacy.

DO = Direct ObservationRA = Reflective AccountQ = Questions

EW = Expert Witness P = Product (Work)WT = Witness Testimony

HSC410.3Advocate for, and with, individuals, families, carers, groups and communities

Performance criteria
DO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You identify methods, gather sufficient information, and evaluate key points that will allow you to prepare a case for advocacy.
2You prepare a case that represents the best interests of the individuals, families, carers, groups and communities.
3You explain clearly, and in a way that can be understood, the procedures, practices and the likely outcomes from the advocacy.
4You advocate with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, carers, groups and communities.
5You communicate outcomes from the advocacy in a way that can be understood.
6You record the processes and outcomes from the advocacy according to legal and organisational procedures and practices.

DO = Direct ObservationRA = Reflective AccountQ = Questions

EW = Expert Witness P = Product (Work)WT = Witness Testimony

To be completed by the Candidate
I SUBMIT THIS AS A COMPLETE UNIT
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………
Candidate’s signature: ………………………………………..
Date: …………………………………………………………..
To be completed by the Assessor
It is a shared responsibility of both the candidate and assessor to claim evidence, however, it is the responsibility of the assessor to ensure the accuracy/validity of each evidence claim and make the final decision.
I certify that sufficient evidence has been produced to meet all the elements, pcS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS UNIT.
Assessor’s name: …………………………………………….
Assessor’s signature: ………………………………………....
Date: …………………………………………………………..
Assessor/Internal Verifier Feedback
To be completed by the Internal Verifier if applicable
This section only needs to be completed if the Unit is sampled by the Internal Verifier
Internal Verifier’s name: ……………………………………………
Internal Verifier’s signature: ………………………………………..
Date: ……………………………………..…………………………..

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Unit: DK2Y 04 (HSC410) Advocate with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, carers, groups and communities