HARG Code of Practice

Introduction

Hampshire Advocacy Regional Group (HARG) exists to support independent advocacy schemes in Hampshire, including Southampton and Portsmouth, and to foster the development of new schemes where there are gaps in provision.  Advocacy schemes based in Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth may apply for membership of HARG, provided that they meet and work within the core aims and principles contained within the Code of Practice and agree to sign up to the requirements detailed in the HARG membership form.

Aims

 The Code of Practice is designed to:

• Support the activities of individual member schemes
• Strengthen and develop advocacy in Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth
• Promote best practice in independent advocacy
• Enable other interested parties to gain a more informed understanding of advocacy and HARG

Principles

HARG recognises the validity of a variety of forms of advocacy which respond to the needs of their local communities, and understands that an individual member scheme will be bound by its own operating guidelines and practice.  Nevertheless, HARG expects any advocacy scheme in membership to subscribe to the following principles:

• Equality of opportunity in every aspect of the scheme’s operation
• The user of the service is at the heart of the advocacy process
• Active and meaningful involvement of the people who use the advocacy scheme
• Respect for confidentiality
• Adherence to the attached Statement of Independence, which forms part of this Code of Practice
• Commitment to the attached Standards for Advocacy, which form part of the Code of Practice
• Commitment to the principles of Non-instructed Advocacy as set out in the attached statement, so that people who may lack capacity to ‘instruct’ an advocate can also benefit from the support of an independent advocate
• Member schemes will not do work in a geographical area covered by another scheme, nor bid for new work in that area, except by prior agreement
• Although not a regulatory body, member schemes will share good practice and highlight any practice issues or concerns they have about another member scheme in a constructive manner

On the basis of these principles, HARG will support its member schemes in a number of ways:

• Be a central resource for the exchange of information, expertise and good practice amongst advocacy schemes in Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth
• Provide support to individual schemes where appropriate
• Be a focal point for advocacy and its further development across the county
• Work with statutory and voluntary agencies to develop advocacy provision where unmet needs are identified
• Raise awareness of advocacy issues with commissioners and funders
• Develop shared advocacy standards, policies and procedures as appropriate
• Draw the attention of scheme managers to reports of unsatisfactory advocacy practice in their scheme and to legal or statutory obligations that do not appear to be being met
• Encourage opportunities for training in advocacy
• Maintain a database of advocacy schemes in the region
• Work with other regional and national advocacy groups who share its values and principles
• Offer a Hampshire perspective on advocacy to national organisations

Membership

Advocacy schemes can apply for membership providing that they:-

• sign up to the Code of Practice
• pay an annual subscription.  

Schemes are represented at HARG by their manager or equivalent.  If a scheme is not represented at HARG meetings for a period of six months its membership shall be reviewed.  HARG reserves the right to refuse an application for membership, in which case the reasons for so doing can be given to the applicant in writing.  HARG may also review an existing membership at any time, for example in the context of a breach of this Code of Practice.

September 2008