PART 2

Answer all of the questions below to cover the knowledge requirements of this unit.

1.Give two examples of times when you have advocated on behalf of one of your clients. Explain how you were limited by any conflict of interests or dilemmas. Who did you turn to for help? In which of the examples would have the client benefited from an independent advocate and why? 1.1,1.2,1.4,1.6,3.1,5.4.

Examples:

1.
I am supporting a client that find it difficult to express himself and whom is challenged with mental ill-health of duo diagnosis.
He has a low self esteem and feels suspicious but part of the treatment/approach recommended to help him gain his confidence is by integrating with his community.
At times, i supported him to an appointment at Cooltan Arts as his volunteering with them, he loved having McDonalds’' meal/food prior to his appointment time. And, i would asked him what he would like to have, make orders /and payment on his behalf in order to help him make an informed decision. At a time I suggested if he would like to make an order for himself which he agreed and he made an order, was asked if his eating/take away…he said ,’…eating please.’ He was served with no tray while others before and besides him were given as I was also beside him. And, I told the waitress that,’ can we have a tray please and she ought to have served him with it because he had told her lately, ‘and she apologized for her mistake.
The limitation i have had by any conflict of interest is centered around our age and perhaps, it has been sometimes a challenge having to support someone who is more or less the same age as me. And, looking at the dilemma is where i wanted to offer advice but the organization’s policy did not permit me. Also, i usually turn to my Peer Involvement Coordinator for help to enlighten, support and encourage me.
2.
I have advocated on behalf of my client at a time we got to where he's volunteering as a media assistant, we were asked by the receptionist to wait for the media/communication manager before a computer would be set up for him as their was an on-going meeting between the staffs and volunteers in their computer room. And i asked my client if he would be interested in joining them at the meeting but he sounded indifferent.
Some minutes later, they had a brake at the meeting and the communication/media manager invited us to their computer room to set-up the system and guided him through on his role. But when the media manager finshed,he didn't asked/invited my client, if he would be interested in joining them at the meeting.

So, I called the manager's attention and asked him politely to seek my client opinion if he would be interested in joining them at the meeting that they will like to listen to his contribution too please. ‘Because we walked past them to the computer at the far-right end of the room and i thought it's unfair.' So, the manager acknowledged her mistake, apologized and asked my client politely but he said, ‘his fine that he'll work on the system.’
The limitation i faced by conflict of interest was centered on the organization’s job policy as i would have liked to persuade him to join them as a platform for him to interact with others. I had to seek for help from my Peer involvement Coordinator on the pros and cons of supporting service users and he said, I am not allowed to persuade or influence their decision on a particular course of action, among others.
The two examples would have my client benefited from an Independent Advocate but the second example is more likely as an independent advocate is concerned with working from a person centered perspective. The reason being that, it enhance a better support , to focus on an acceptable outcome, to give information to enable him to make an informed decision, to see him as having the most specialized knowledge of his life, wishes and feelings, est.

What are key principals underpinning independent advocate and why are they important? 2.1,