UBC Press Advocacy Skills for Health and Social Care Professionals book Paperback 192 pages

Most professionals working in health or social care will be required to act as advocates as part of their work. A social worker or community nurse may need to obtain extra benefits or a particular service for a client; a housing official may need to help a tenant whose benefit has been delayed thus placing them at risk of homelessness; a voluntary body may decide to challenge a statement of special educational needs for a child.This is a practical guide to advocacy skills specifically written for those in the health and social care professions. Neil Bateman examines the function of advocacy within these professions and how to interview, negotiate and self-manage successfully. He provides a structure for advocacy, a guide to the ethical implications and advice on litigation and legal matters. Accessible and comprehensive, Advocacy Skills for Health and Social Care Professionals will be an essential resource for all those wishing to improve their practice.

Neil Bateman manages Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Health Authority's Welfare Rights Unit. An adviser to the Local Government Association, he has over 20 years' experience of advocacy on behalf of people using the welfare state.