Approach

To collaborate where possible. To challenge where necessary.

Context for Support and Advocacy Work

What support and independent advocacy is

• Supporting people to:

- Make decisions and to participate in decisions about themselves

- Communicate what their personal wishes are

- Represent their interests in accordance with their will and preference

- Secure their rights, and

- Obtain services they need.

• Promoting social inclusion, equality and social justice.
• Sage personnel are:

- Free from any conflict of interest

- Independent of family, service provider or systems interests

- Recruited, trained, supported and supervised by a recognised support and advocacy body

- Guided by quality standards and robust policies and practice guidelines.

What the service offers

• Direct delivery of support and independent advocacy to individuals and groups with a focus on issues that have the potential for the greatest possible systemic impact.
• Work to ensure that legislation, policies and practices are developed that will meet the needs of vulnerable adults and older people.
• Work to ensure that the highest possible standards of service delivery are developed, communicated and implemented.
• Recognition of the fundamental importance of values, standards and the law in determining the wellbeing of vulnerable adults and older people.
• Work with public, private and independent service providers in order to identify adults who may be at risk and in need of safeguarding.
• A team of people capable of tackling the most complex support and advocacy challenges presented by vulnerable adults and older people.
• An understanding and appreciation of the systemic inequalities and weaknesses that exist in legislation, policies and practices.

Sage Advocacy Strategic Plan 2021-2023:

Adopted by the Sage Advocacy Board of Directors on June 17th 2021 (see here for further details)