Independent Person Advocacy (IPA)
People with communications difficulties often lose out on access to the rights and services which others take for granted.
Our Independent Person Advocacy (IPA) service seeks to offer people with learning difficulties who do not use language an advocacy service as close as possible to that offered to our generic clients.
Although we seek to echo the standards of service offered to generic clients, there are differences in working with this client group. Because these clients cannot request advocacy support themselves, we accept referrals from others who have an interest in their care.
In IPA work we adjust our working methods to fit with our clients' abilities and needs, so much of the early work will be observing patterns of communication and interaction. It is also important that clients are content for us to work with them - as they cannot formally give consent to our support.
After this initial work we can begin to open up an issue by asking for information from others. Thus we hope to form a picture of clients' needs and preferences.
Although we will never be able to know clients as well as those who live and work with them, IPA work can provide a valuable independent perspective.
Although our IPA Advocates currently work only on those whose communication difficulties are severe, POhWER seeks to provide, between its Generic One to One and IPA services, appropriate advocacy for any client referred to us.
Service referrals
If you wish to refer someone to this service or yourself please complete the service referral form
Feedback about services
If you would like to feedback to us about this service please complete the feedback form
Contact Us
If you would like to know more about our IPA services, please contact one of our offices and ask to speak with an Independent Person Advocate.
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
