Publication - Factsheet

Independent advocacy standards: focus group meetings

Published: 5 October 2018
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Health and social care, Money and tax

Information and registration form for independent advocacy focus group meetings across Scotland between 30 October - 22 November 2018.

The Social Security (Scotland) Act requires us to make advocacy support available to people with a disability who need help with the Scottish social security system. We must also set out independent standards for services providing this social security advocacy support.

Advocates help people make their own views known and to be able to contribute to decisions affecting themselves. Advocacy is not the general provision of information and advice on e.g. eligibility for support.

Given the importance of the advocacy provision we wish to ensure that the standards best meet the needs of those who would offer and use advocacy. To allow us to do this we have arranged a number of meetings across Scotland so that we may hear from service users and providers:

Focus groups for advocacy service users

Area	Date of meeting	Starting	Ending	Closing date for request to attend
Area	Date of meeting	Starting	Ending	Closing date for request to attend
Glasgow	30 Oct	10:30	13:00	16 Oct
Edinburgh	01 Nov	10:30	13:00	18 Oct
Aberdeen	08 Nov	10:30	13:00	25 Oct
Inverness	14 Nov	10:30	13:00	31 Oct
Dumfries	22 Nov	10:30	13:00	08 Nov

Focus groups for advocacy service providers

Area	Date of meeting	Starting	Ending	Closing date for request to attend
Glasgow	30 Oct	14:00	16:30	16 Oct
Edinburgh	01 Nov	14:00	16:30	18 Oct
Glasgow	06 Nov	14:00	16:30	23 Oct
Aberdeen	08 Nov	14:00	16:30	25 Oct
Inverness	14 Nov	14:00	16:30	31 Oct
Edinburgh	20 Nov	14:00	16:30	06 Nov
Dumfries	22 Nov	14:00	16:30	08 Nov

Should you be interested in working with us to develop the standards, please complete the meeting request form below and return it to us by:

email at socialsecurityadvocacy@gov.scot
sending it to us at Social Security Advocacy, Act Implementation Team, 5th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow G2 8LU
if you need help to complete the form you can call us on 0800 029 4974

Buildings are in central locations and are accessible. We will provide communication support if required. If you require support please let us know by completing the form.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed so long as you are able to provide receipts for public transport and taxis. If you travel by car mileage can be worked out with a member of staff.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept requests to attend beyond the closing date to allow sufficient time to arrange any support required.