talked about absolutely everything, all the physical and mental health ‘We problems that I (Nicola, 47, Glasgow) have’ That in-depth exploration could still be quite an informal process: talked about all my past experiences and how my health conditions have ‘We been ignored. She was trying to get all my background information from me, but really it was just like sitting down with a cup of coffee and having a blether’ (William, 52, Midlothian) Being prepared to deliver this in has been a key part of successful client’s homes engagement: first time they met, Jane came out to see me. That was incredibly helpful, I ‘The go out and about much to do things, it depends on the state of my body. don’t not always possible for me to go and see someone. It’s I spent a couple of hours answering questions. I was scared, I have had a lot of experience of people who were meant to help not really helping. Jane made me feel better about the whole thing….. She talked about the assessment, and talked through my medical history and form. She made time to get to know me and my situation. She also met my husband and clarified that he could come too and that he could ask questions (Nadia, 34, Midlothian) too’ Preparation and Reassurance Talking through answers to key questions, advocates had focused on the need clients’ for them to give sufficiently detailed answers: talked things through openly and honestly. Ian went through the ‘They questions, explaining everything, explaining that I should say on how many days I felt like that, how often I felt like (Lisa, 53, Falkirk) that’ told me what not to say. He said that if you just said that you could do ‘He something, without explaining that it was difficult, you would fail straight away. He gave the example of making a pot of stew. I might say that I could do it, but could I do it every day, was it difficult for me? He made clear that I needed to tell them how it (George, 60, Falkirk) was’ The provision of reassurance was described over and again by clients as a central part of the support provided by their advocate: talked through the questions that would be in the assessment, and Ian told ‘We me not to panic about any of them. He would be there to make sure that I would answer (Gail, 60, Falkirk) right.’ Preparation not Coaching
‘We talked about absolutely everything, all the physical and mental health problems that I have’ (Nicola, 47, Glasgow) That in-depth exploration could still be quite an informal process: ‘We talked about all my past experiences and how my health conditions have been ignored. She was trying to get all my background information from me, but really it was just like sitting down with a cup of coffee and having a blether’ (William, 52, Midlothian) Being prepared to deliver this in client’s homes has been a key part of successful engagement: ‘The first time they met, Jane came out to see me. That was incredibly helpful, I don’t go out and about much to do things, it depends on the state of my body. It’s not always possible for me to go and see someone. I spent a couple of hours answering questions. I was scared, I have had a lot of experience of people who were meant to help not really helping. Jane made me feel better about the whole thing….. She talked about the assessment, and talked through my medical history and form. She made time to get to know me and my situation. She also met my husband and clarified that he could come too and that he could ask questions too’ (Nadia, 34, Midlothian) Preparation and Reassurance Talking through clients’ answers to key questions, advocates had focused on the need for them to give sufficiently detailed answers: ‘They talked things through openly and honestly. Ian went through the questions, explaining everything, explaining that I should say on how many days I felt like that, how often I felt like that’ (Lisa, 53, Falkirk) ‘He told me what not to say. He said that if you just said that you could do something, without explaining that it was difficult, you would fail straight away. He gave the example of making a pot of stew. I might say that I could do it, but could I do it every day, was it difficult for me? He made clear that I needed to tell them how it was’ (George, 60, Falkirk) The provision of reassurance was described over and again by clients as a central part of the support provided by their advocate: ‘We talked through the questions that would be in the assessment, and Ian told me not to panic about any of them. He would be there to make sure that I would answer right.’ (Gail, 60, Falkirk) Preparation not Coaching
Welfare-Advocacy-Support-Project-Evaluation-Report.docx