Advocacy Worker

An Advocacy Worker helps to securing people’s rights, such as accessing services and ensure that people are involved in their own care and support planning. Advocacy workers help to enable and support individuals to express their views, wishes and choices regarding the services they receive.

The role of an Advocacy Worker is very varied and you will be involved in a wide range of support situations. These can be decisions around housing, disability living allowance, care planning, medical decisions, financial planning and hospital admissions.

Advocacy Worker is also known as Advocate.

Role Characteristics

Explore options to help people make decisions about their own lives
Support people of all ages to have a voice in decisions about their care
Accompany and support people in meetings or during appointments
Work with family members and other professionals involved in a persons care
Make sure correct legal processes are followed
Help people to access services

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Communication
Customer service
Empathy
Public speaking

Day in the life

Watch this video to learn about Advocacy.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

Volunteering or work experience

Apply directly

GCSEs

An apprenticeship

How to become

There are many routes into becoming an Advocacy Worker; these include apprenticeships, volunteering or work experience.

Employers may expect GCSEs in English and maths or a qualification in health and care, but you could complete these once you are working.
It might be helpful to have experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults. You could gain this experience through a volunteering, work experience, an apprenticeship or from your personal life.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

With experience you could progress within Advocacy and specialise in certain areas such as children and young people or mental health capacity. You could move to a more senior job, like Advocacy Co-ordinator or a Team Manager. Alternatively, you could choose to specialise in an area like independent health complaints.