Advocacy

Advocacy in Slough

The Advocacy service in Slough, delivered by Matrix, is commissioned to provide advocacy services across Slough. Matrix have a history of working in Slough that dates back to 2007.

Advocacy is for people who have difficulties getting their voice heard due to impairments, social care needs, and having no other independent person to assist them.

Typically, the person instructs the advocate themselves. However, if the person lacks capacity around a particular decision and/or process, an advocate can also be appointed in the person's best interest.

There are various advocacy provisions depending on the issue:

  • Independent Care Act Advocacy - Supports people who would have substantial difficulty participating in their social care planning or a safeguarding investigation without assistance. Referrals must come from Slough Adult Social Care, but you can ask your social worker to refer you.
  • Independent Health Complaints Advocacy - Self-help and support for making complaints about NHS provided or funded health services.
  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy - Supports people facing decisions such as treatment, medication, or being detained under the Mental Health Act ("sectioned"). Support from an advocate with Mental Health Act expertise, either in a hospital or community setting.
  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy -  to support people who lack capacity to be involved in important decisions about their lives, such as where they will live, having serious medical treatments or Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Referrals come from Adult Social Care or Clinicians.
  • Independent Generic Advocacy - Short-term, issue-based, and outcome-focused. For people with impairments or social care needs who struggle to access services without support. Professionals can refer with permission, but self-referrals are preferred.
  • Empower Slough – A new project to work closely with Slough’s diverse communities to increase awareness and understanding of advocacy through free training, and assist those communities to advocate for themselves. In addition, the project will also look to recruit volunteers to aid in this work, and support the Generic Advocacy services. The project is currently under development and further updates will be provided in due course. 

For further information, please refer to the Matrix (advocacy service) by contacting: