Advocacy experts fear people are being left without support to challenge council decisions about their care
Too few people are getting independent advocacy they are legally entitled to under the Care Act 2014, experts warn.
Four months after a local authority’s failure to arrange an advocate for a woman led to the first successful legal challenge under the Care Act, council reports reveal a dearth of referrals for independent advocacy. One local authority averaged less than two a month. A second saw just 9% of predicted demand.
Advocacy trainers and providers fear vulnerable adults are being left without support to challenge council decisions about their care.
Councils say they are investigating low referral numbers and working to raise awareness of advocacy support.
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