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WordsWorth Independent Advocacy Service was set up in 1996. Our advocates are trained and experienced professionals who work to support adults and young persons (11-18) with mental health problems, such as addiction, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, mental breakdown, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and self-harm.
We have specialist advocates who support those with learning disabilities, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, dementia, or brain injury. No one is prevented from accessing the service because of difference in language, culture, disability of capacity. WordsWorth can provide a male and/or female advocate and every effort will be made in the event of a request to see an ethnic minority advocate.
It is a confidential service and this is only broken when USERS threaten harm to themselves or to others. The service fully complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
People particularly need advocacy when they are disbelieved, discounted, devalued and discriminated against, as people with serious mental health problems often are, within services and in the wider community. Advocates support people with practical problems and questions about accommodation, education, employment, disability benefits, family and/or friends, finance, medication and transport. An advocate will help you access all kinds of information or research material.
An advocate does not give advice but introduces people to the appropriate helping agencies in the hospital or in the community. An advocate may go with you to meetings, speak up for you on other occasions, write letters and/or make telephone calls on your behalf. They operate without being judgemental and will always support your views and wishes, provided they are within the law.
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