You can download this Easy-to-Read Guide here PDF
The National Advocacy Service is called NAS for short
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is about you and your rights.
Advocacy makes sure you are listened to.
Advocacy is about saying what you want.
Advocacy is getting help to speak up.
Advocacy helps you look at different options.
What does a NAS Advocate do?
Listens to you and what you have to say.
Always stands beside you and takes your side.
Keeps your information private.
Finds out information so you can make choices.
Helps you in making your own decisions
Helps you tell people like your family, staff, social workers what you want.
Helps you prepare for meetings.
Helps you make a complaint if you are unhappy with a service or the way you are treated.
How do I get help?
You can call, text …
or email.
You can ask a friend, family member or staff to call for you. (An advocate will always ask you if you want help).
You can come and meet an advocate to talk about the help you need.
What happens next?
An advocate will tell you what NAS can do.
Together you and the advocate will make a plan of action.
An advocate will ask if it is ok to work with you and keep a record of what is done.
And then what?
You and your advocate will:
Start working on the plan.
Get ready for meetings.
Update each other on what’s happening.
Decide when the plan is finished.
Stop working together.
Some other information you need to know
We need to keep records, for example a file, of the work we do.
This means that NAS will need to keep information about you in a safely locked place.
We may keep your information safe on a computer.
You have a right to see the information we keep about you.
Confidentiality
Confidential means that the information is kept private. We will also ask you if it is ok to share and get information from others.
Your meetings with the advocate are confidential. This is NAS policy.
NAS will also ask you if it is ok to share and get information from others.
However there may be times when we need to tell someone else or get someone else involved without your agreement.
This will be if:
- You are in danger
- You are a danger to someone else
- A court asks for information
- A child is in danger
Your advocate will tell you if this needs to happen.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with the service you have received from NAS, you can make a complaint.
You can contact the NAS manager to make a complaint.
If you want to use the NAS service, you can fill out a form here
