Social security advocacy service standards

-It needs to say Independent advocacy- to ensure there is an element of 'independent'
-Independent Workers don't necessarily need to have a full understanding of the Social Security System but help the person to access from a proper Independent advice place who are not funded by the Scottish Govt.

-It should say ' Independent' Advocacy, rather than 'advocacy' so people know there is no other agenda.
-Advocacy should always be free of conflict not ' free of conflict as much as possible'.
- if a person has language barriers and doesn't understand, it is important that system is there to provide interpreters to help on such occasions, as its' important all people have equal opportunities to access benefits.

Advocacy can only be 'person-centred' if it is 'independent advocacy'

there needs to be more emphasis on people of all communities being able to access 'Independent advocacy'. Independent advocacy is not often accessed/ commonly accessed by people of all races . Organisations need to do more to ensure they are approachable, more accessible, more visible to BME/ other ethnicity people with disability/ mental health issues to ensure they also have equal opportunities in access independent advocacy.

Social security is a very complex system and there needs proper advisory organisations to help with benefits advice. Independent advocacy needs to be 'independent' from giving benefits advise, especially if the benefit award needs to be challenged. Independent advocacy should be able to support the person to challenge the benefit system rather than giving advice.