• considering certain treatments which have been suggested to you. Advocates can be: • volunteer or paid advocates; or • people with specialist knowledge, like doctors, lawyers or solicitors. East Sussex East Sussex County Council has a contract with POhWER to provide independent and confidential advocacy services. You can talk to POhWER advocates in the strictest confidence either by asking your care manager or ward staff for a referral or by contacting POhWER directly: Tel: 0300 456 2370 (charged at local rate). Email: pohwer@pohwer.net Skype: pohwer.advocacy Web: pohwer.net/east-sussex Brighton & Hove The Sussex Advocacy Partnership provides a central point of access for all statutory advocacy. Professionals can refer to the central point of access, managed by POhWER, for independent Care
Act Advocates, by emailing pohwer@pohwer.net or visiting pohwer.net/brighton-and-hove Alternatively, you can make a self-referral to community advocacy services by contacting the following organisations. Mind in Brighton and Hove Advocacy for adults with mental health issues including those affecting older people. Tel: 01273 666950 • Email: info@mindcharity.co.uk Web: mindcharity.co.uk Mind Out Advocacy for LGBTQ people with mental health issues. Tel: 01273 234839 • Email: info@mindout.org.uk Web: mindout.org.uk/get-support/advocacy Speak Out Advocacy for adults with learning disabilities. Tel: 01273 421921 • Email: info@bhspeakout.org.uk Web: bhspeakout.org.uk Sussex Interpreting Services Delivers bilingual advocacy services. Tel: 01273 234016 Web: sussexinterpreting.org.uk/community-advocacy
Safeguarding adults If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused, neglected or exploited, you should raise your concerns. It is important that everyone knows what to look for, and who they can go to for advice and support. Changes in someone’s physical or emotional state, or injuries that cannot be explained, may be a sign of abuse. The Sussex Safeguarding Adults Boards has arrangements in place to prevent and protect people who may be at risk of, or are experiencing, abuse or neglect. This is set out in the ‘Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures’ at sussexsafeguardingadults.procedures.org.uk An adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect if
they are unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation due to their age, physical or learning disability, mental health needs or other illness. Other adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect include people who are: • unpaid carers; • homeless; • experiencing domestic abuse; • misusing drugs and / or alcohol; • badly treated and forced to work for little or no pay; or • forced to marry.
Visit carechoices.co.uk for further assistance with your search for care
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