SEAP has developed a reputation for providing high quality services at the cutting edge of advocacy; driving change and challenging established thinking at local and national levels to ensure that empowerment and person-centred practice becomes a reality which really makes a difference in the lives of people who receive services.
Today, as well as being one of the 3 ICAS providers in England, SEAP delivers a wide range of advocacy and related services, and provides highly specialised advocacy support to many different client groups, particularly those who are usually less heard in our society. This includes specific services relating to IMHA, IMCA, IMCA DOLS and ICAS; specialist client services for children/young people, those with sensory, learning or physical disabilities, people experiencing mental health issues, older people, and those with dementia-type illnesses and acquired brain injuries.
SEAP also has a wide portfolio of other services including delivery of the new national Qualification in Independent Advocacy.
South of England Advocacy Projects (SEAP) is a Registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. It was formed in 2000, having taken over the management of three projects from a local Council for Voluntary Services.
The purpose of the organisation is to ensure that the views, wishes and feelings of those using health and social care services are promoted to service providers; and to provide advocacy support to individuals or groups who wish to resolve specific issues. It achieves this primarily in two ways:
- Advocates provide information, support and representation to clients relating to specific difficulties, concerns, or complaints.
- The organisation works directly with service providers at local and national level, aiming to ensure that client experiences are at the heart of service planning, implementation and monitoring.
SEAP is committed to the central advocacy principles of independence, confidentiality, best interests, and empowerment. It believes that the views, wishes and feelings of clients should be central to both its own work, and the planning and delivery of health and social care services. SEAP staff are required to work to high standards of professionalisms with both clients and service providers, building good working relationships with key stakeholders across all sectors whilst maintaining the core independence of the service.
SEAP is a widely respected and recognised advocacy provider and this plan sets out its intentions for the next 3 years to build on its success and strengthen its internal and external position.
Vision Statement
Your Voice, Your Rights, Your Choice
Mission Statement
To continue to develop as a leading advocacy organisation within the UK, providing client-led services which enable and empower clients, providers, planners and policy makers to:
- Support successful resolution of individual client issues.
- Ensure the experiences, views, wishes and feelings of clients impact on, improve and play a central role in service planning and delivery.
SEAP aims to provide high quality, confidential, independent advocacy services, supporting clients in having a voice in the way they are cared for, in the services they receive, and in decisions that are made about their lives. Advocates support clients to express their views, wishes and feelings themselves, or through a competent and independent voice, assisting them in safeguarding their rights and ensuring that those who are particularly vulnerable and/or excluded have an opportunity to take forward issues which are of importance to them.
SEAP is committed to providing advocacy support through well trained, supervised, highly motivated advocates, who ensure that the views of clients form a central part of decision-making processes. SEAP is experienced in working with service providers at all levels and across organisational boundaries, without compromising advocacy principles.
SEAP’s overall ethos is one of client empowerment. It is dedicated to promoting the voice of clients, especially those who are particularly vulnerable, to ensure that their views are heard, genuinely taken into account, and influence the planning, delivery and development of services. SEAP is committed to:
- The provision of skilled individual casework advocacy, providing effective representation of clients’ views, wishes and feelings to those in positions of power and influence.
- Engaging with key service providers to highlight themes, trends, gaps in service provision and practice/policy issues.
- The promotion of client involvement at all levels and in all areas of its own, and service provider, organisations/agencies.
- Taking a lead role in furthering the quality of advocacy provision, through involvement in local, regional and national fora; the development of a formal advocacy qualification route; and the development of National Occupational Standards across the field.
- Significant involvement in the wider social policy agenda.
- Adults with mental health issues (Mental Health Advocacy Service)
- Children & young people (Xpress)
- Adults with learning disabilities (MY CHOiCE)
- Adults and children/young people wishing to make complaints about NHS healthcare (ICAS).
- SEAP Portsmouth: Mental health, learning/physical disability, sensory impairment advocacy, appropriate adult and IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy)
- SEAP Cornwall: Mental health advocacy and IMCA
- Secure units
- Hospitals
- Day Services
- Adolescent Psychiatric Units
- Children’s Homes
- Forensic Psychiatry Units
- Care Homes
- Prisons
- Respite Units
- Community-based projects
Specialist Experience
MY CHOiCE, SEAP’s learning disability project, has been providing specialist advocacy services since 1995. It provides advocacy support to clients with a range of learning disabilities, including complex and profound communication difficulties, those who intermittently lack capacity and those with acquired brain injury. It has written a guide to the courts for parents with a learning disability whose children are the subject of child protection proceedings.
Xpress, formed in 1994, works with children and young people up to the age of 21, including those with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Xpress has considerable experience in working with young people who are Looked After by the local authority and those who live in secure accommodation. Xpress provides specialist mental health advocacy support to young people experiencing mental health issues, and works extensively with those who do not communicate verbally. As well as using a variety of communication systems, Xpress staff have developed visual toolkits and individual communication books personalised for each user.
Mental Health Advocacy (MHA), formed in 1995, has a range of experience with mental health clients, including those with profound and enduring mental health issues. It provides visiting advocacy services for psychiatric in-patient wards, forensic psychiatric units, specialist women’ service units, prisons and private community facilities. MHA has recently been awarded a number of IMHA contracts. The service also provides support and facilitation in service user enterprises such as patient’s councils, and runs successful peer advocacy projects. The service has considerable experience in working in the area of complex and multiple needs.
ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service): SEAP has been providing ICAS services since its initial pilot in 2003. SEAP currently delivers an extensive ICAS service across the South East and South West regions, and provides both remote and specialist advocacy support to people who wish to make a complaint about their NHSP healthcare or treatment.
IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocate) The Mental Capacity Act created a new service, the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service. Its purpose is to support vulnerable people who are considered to lack capacity and who are facing important decisions made by the NHS and Local Authorities about serious medical treatment and changes of residence - for example, moving to a hospital or care home. NHS bodies and Local Authorities have a duty to consult the IMCA in decisions involving people who have no family or friends.
SEAP has developed considerable expertise in delivering effective, sensitive and meaningful IMCA services in the south east and south west regions.
SEAP services also provide direct advocacy and rights-based training to service providers in health and social care services; and trains, supports and empowers service users to be involved in the recruitment of staff for those agencies. Service Users form a central part of internal recruitment processes and training programmes for SEAP staff.
