Empowerment
Empowerment is about giving information to people so that they know their rights, supporting people to consider their options and make their own choices and decisions.
This is called informed choice and it means that people can have a voice. It is important that people feel they have been listened to and that they feel they have equal rights. Support can be given in many different ways.
The POhWER Empowerment service works with groups of people.
Traffic light cards
In past meetings people have complained about other people speaking too fast and more than one person speaking at a time. Also, when decisions had to be made some people were not able to vote.
A traffic light system can be used to make things easier.
Traffic light system
RED: To stop the meeting / No (when voting)
GREEN: Yes (when voting)
WHITE: To ask a question
YELLOW: Slow down the meeting
Valuing People work
The Empowerment team support the Valuing People Working Group. This group meets every two months and links in with the Hertfordshire Partnership Board. The Hertfordshire Partnership Board reports to the Valuing People support team and to the Government.
Group work
POhWER Advocates can also be involved with some group work. Some Advocates support self advocacy groups in Hertfordshire and some support groups in hospitals. Groups at hospitals are called Patients' Councils.
If you would like to know more
If you have any questions or would like to know about the groups that might be available in your area then please get in touch with us.
Our North Hertfordshire office covers Stevenage and North Hertfordshire, Royston, Buntingford and Bishop's Stortford, Welwyn and Hatfield, South East Hertfordshire (includes Cheshunt, Ware, Hoddesdon).
Contact the North office
Our South Hertfordshire office covers St Albans and Harpenden, Watford and Three Rivers, Hertsmere (includes Potters Bar, Borehamwood, Radlett, Shenley), Dacorum (includes Hemel Hempstead, Tring, Berkhamsted, Kings Langley).
Contact the South office
