2.1. Compare and contrast models of advocacy

This guide will help you answer 2.1. Compare and contrast models of advocacy.

Advocacy is delivered through different models, each designed to meet the specific needs of individuals or groups. These models have unique characteristics, strengths, and limitations. Comparing and contrasting them offers insight into how advocacy can be tailored to a variety of situations in health and social care. In this guide, we will look at the most common models of advocacy and their key features.

Self-Advocacy

What it is: Self-advocacy encourages individuals to represent themselves and express their own needs, wants, and concerns. The advocate’s role in this model is to support and empower the person, rather than speak on their behalf.

Key features:

• Individuals are supported to build their confidence and communication skills.
• The focus is on fostering independence.
• Advocates may provide information, training, or tools (like templates or guides).

Strengths:

• Promotes empowerment and self-reliance.
• Ensures that the person’s own voice is directly heard.
• Helps build long-term confidence and life skills.

Limitations:

• May not be suitable for individuals who lack capacity or confidence to self-advocate.
• Requires initial support, which may not always be available.
• Communication barriers, such as language or disability, can hinder the success of this model.

Comparison to other models: Unlike other models, the individual leads the process entirely. This is in contrast to systems like individual advocacy, where a professional or volunteer advocates on the person’s behalf.

Individual Advocacy

What it is: In this model, an advocate works one-on-one with an individual, representing their unique needs and interests. This is often used when people are unable to effectively self-advocate.

Key features:

• The advocate may attend meetings, write letters, or speak directly with service providers or professionals.
• Focus is on resolving specific issues or meeting particular goals.
• Typically short-term and problem-focused.

Strengths:

• Provides tailored, intensive support to meet personal needs.
• Suitable for people who feel overwhelmed or lack the ability to advocate for themselves.
• The advocate can navigate systems and processes on the person’s behalf.

Limitations:

• Does not teach the individual advocacy skills for future independence.
• Heavily reliant on the professionalism and skills of the advocate.
• May unintentionally disempower the individual if they become overly dependent on the advocate.

Comparison to other models: Unlike self-advocacy, the advocate plays an active role on the person’s behalf. Additionally, while it shares similarities with statutory advocacy (particularly a one-to-one focus), it is not specifically mandated by law.

Group Advocacy

What it is: Group advocacy involves multiple individuals working together to advocate for shared needs or concerns. This is particularly common in communities or marginalised groups advocating for common goals.

Key features:

• Individuals come together to form a collective voice.
• Often targets broader systemic issues rather than individual concerns.
• May involve campaigns, petitions, or meetings with policymakers.

Strengths:

• Amplifies voices through collective action.
• Promotes shared learning and support among group members.
• More likely to garner attention from decision-makers or the public.

Limitations:

• Individual needs may be overshadowed by the group’s shared priorities.
• Members with louder voices might dominate, sidelining others.
• Coordination and organisation can be challenging.

Comparison to other models: This is distinct from individual and self-advocacy because it focuses on group dynamics and shared issues. On the other hand, it has some overlap with statutory advocacy when large-scale systemic changes are pursued under legal frameworks.

Statutory Advocacy

What it is: Statutory advocacy is a legally recognised form of advocacy provided to people entitled to it under specific laws. For example, individuals with mental health issues, or those who lack capacity to make certain decisions, may require statutory advocates such as Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) or Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs).

Key features:

• Advocates are trained professionals employed to work within the legal frameworks.
• Services are often funded by public bodies.
• Focuses on safeguarding rights in specific legal or formal situations.

Strengths:

• Legally required, meaning individuals are guaranteed support in certain circumstances.
• Highly regulated, ensuring quality and accountability.
• Protects vulnerable individuals, e.g., those who cannot make decisions due to mental incapacity.

Limitations:

• Limited to certain groups under the law, excluding many who might benefit from advocacy.
• Often formal and process-driven, which can feel impersonal.
• Access is dependent on strict eligibility criteria.

Comparison to other models: Unlike other advocacy models, statutory advocacy is grounded in legal obligations. It contrasts with self or group advocacy, which are voluntary and not tied to legal requirements.

Peer Advocacy

What it is: Peer advocacy involves individuals with shared experiences supporting one another. For example, someone with lived experience of a mental health condition might act as a peer advocate for another person facing similar challenges.

Key features:

• Shared experiences form the basis of understanding and trust.
• Peer advocates may receive training but are not typically professionals.
• Focuses on mutual support within the peer relationship.

Strengths:

• Advocates bring a deep understanding of the person’s situation through their own experience.
• Builds rapport and reduces feelings of isolation.
• Often more relatable than professional advocacy.

Limitations:

• Peer advocates may lack the expertise or formal training of professional advocates.
• Boundaries between the advocate and the individual can blur, leading to potential ethical issues.
• May not be effective in complex or high-stakes situations requiring legal or professional representation.

Comparison to other models: Peer advocacy is unique in its foundation of shared experiences and informal rapport. It differs significantly from statutory advocacy, which relies on formal, legal structures.

Citizen Advocacy

What it is: Citizen advocacy involves volunteers (citizens) taking on the role of advocate. This is often seen in community-based programmes where volunteers work alongside vulnerable individuals to defend their rights and help them access support.

Key features:

• Citizen advocates are unpaid, working on a voluntary basis.
• The focus is on building a long-term supportive relationship.
• Often used for individuals with no family or social network to assist them.

Strengths:

• Builds meaningful, ongoing relationships.
• Promotes inclusivity and community engagement.
• Cost-effective in contrast to professional advocacy models.

Limitations:

• Volunteers may lack the specialist training needed for certain complex cases.
• Advocacy is dependent on the volunteer’s time, training, and commitment.
• Boundaries must be managed carefully to prevent undue emotional strain on either party.

Comparison to other models: Citizen advocacy aligns more with informal support, unlike statutory models, which are enforced by law. However, it shares similarities with individual advocacy in its one-to-one approach.

Comparing Advocacy Models

Below is a summary of how the models compare based on specific aspects:

Level of Formality:

• Statutory advocacy is formal and legally regulated.
• Self, group, citizen, and peer advocacy are informal and flexible.

Focus:

• Individual and statutory advocacy focus on personal needs.
• Group advocacy targets collective, systemic issues.

Required Skills:

• Peer and citizen advocates rely on personal experience or community involvement.
• Statutory and individual advocates require professional skills and training.

Duration:

• Self-advocacy and peer advocacy often aim at long-term empowerment.
• Statutory and individual advocacy may be short-term and goal-specific.

Legal Framework:

• Only statutory advocacy is legally mandated.
• Other types are voluntary, arising from community needs.

Choosing the Right Model

In practice, the model used depends on the individual’s situation, preferences, and the type of support needed. For example:

• A person eligible under the Mental Capacity Act might require statutory advocacy.
• A community group campaigning for housing rights might use group advocacy.
• Someone new to advocacy might start with peer advocacy before progressing to self-advocacy.

Each model has distinct strengths and limitations, and they are often used alongside one another to provide holistic support. By understanding the differences, health and social care workers can make informed decisions about which type of advocacy suits each situation best.