What Are Advocates in Health and Social Care?

People hear the word advocate and picture someone in a suit arguing a case. That’s not what this is.

The real answer to “what are advocates in health and social care?” is simple: they help people be heard. Advocates support people who struggle to speak up or understand what’s happening in their care. They don’t make decisions. They don’t give advice. What they do is make sure the person stays involved in their own life. For many people, that support makes the difference between being included or ignored.

What Are Advocates in Health and Social Care Actually Meant to Do?

Advocates help people understand their rights. They explain things in plain language. They make sure people know what choices they have and how to ask for what they want.

Let’s say someone has a learning disability. At a care planning meeting, staff speak quickly. Big words fly around. The person looks lost. An advocate steps in and says, “Do you want me to slow this down for you?” That moment changes everything.

The advocate might speak for the person if they ask. But they’ll always try to help the person speak for themselves first. That’s the point. Advocacy gives power back — not takes it away.

An Advocate Is Not Your Lawyer — But They Are on Your Side

Let’s get this out of the way: an advocate doesn’t give medical advice. They don’t give legal advice either. They don’t tell professionals what to do.

What they do is keep the focus on the person. They remind teams to involve the person in decisions. They make sure that person’s views don’t get lost under pressure, paperwork, or assumptions.

An advocate doesn’t take control. They make sure the person doesn’t lose theirs.

Who Can Use an Advocate in Health and Social Care? More People Than You Think

Being in crisis isn’t a requirement. You don’t have to be non-verbal. And in many cases, there’s no need to go through an assessment first.

Lots of people use advocates. Some examples:

• Adults with disabilities
• People with mental health conditions
• Older people in care homes
• People who don’t speak English well
• Children in care
• People going through safeguarding cases
• Anyone facing a complex or serious care decision

You can get advocacy short-term or long-term. Sometimes it’s just one meeting. Sometimes it’s over weeks. It depends on your situation and what support you need.

When Advocacy Is a Legal Right (Yes, Sometimes It’s the Law)

This bit’s important. In some cases, advocacy isn’t just a nice extra — it’s a legal requirement. Under UK law, you have a right to an Independent Advocate when:

• You might be part of a safeguarding enquiry or review.
• Maybe you’re going through a care needs or carer’s assessment.
• You could be subject to the Mental Health Act.
• Or perhaps the Mental Capacity Act applies, and decisions are being made in your best interest.

This means councils and services must offer you an advocate — even if you don’t ask for one — if they think you’ll struggle to take part in your own care planning and have no one else to help.

This kind of advocate is called a statutory advocate. They’re trained, neutral, and not connected to the care provider. Their loyalty is only to the person getting support.

Advocacy Isn’t About Speaking Instead of Someone — It’s About Making Space

There’s a big myth floating around: that advocates always speak on behalf of people. That they jump in and take over, that’s not true.

Good advocacy starts with the person. Not the problem. Not the paperwork. And definitely not the system. What matters most is the person.

The advocate checks what the person wants first. They explain the process. They help the person feel ready and confident. Then, if needed, they speak up in the room — but only with the person’s permission. Sometimes, all it takes is the advocate being present. That presence alone makes professionals stop and listen.

Why Advocacy Matters in a System That Moves Fast

Let’s be honest. The health and social care system can be overwhelming. Staff are stretched. Appointments are rushed. Systems are hard to follow.

Now imagine trying to keep up if you’re dealing with a mental health issue. Maybe you’re in pain. Maybe you’re dealing with memory loss. Or maybe English isn’t your first language. It’s all too easy to fall behind — or slip through the cracks completely.

That’s where advocates come in. They press pause. They create space. They make sure no one gets left behind just because they couldn’t keep up with the system.

Advocates Don’t Work for Social Services — They Work for the Person

Another myth is that people think advocates are part of the council, the care home, or the NHS. They’re not.

Independent advocates are just that — independent. They don’t take orders from the care provider. They don’t have targets to hit. Their job is to stand beside the person and help them feel heard.

That’s what makes their role so powerful. They’re one of the few people in the room with no agenda except the person’s own wishes.

What Does a Real-Life Advocacy Example Look Like?

Here’s one from a shift I’ll never forget.

An older man, non-verbal after a stroke, had no family nearby. A move to a care home was being planned. Everyone meant well, but decisions were flying past him.

Then an advocate came in. She took time to learn how he communicated. She used flashcards and photos. Over two visits, he picked the care home he wanted. He smiled when he saw the garden there.

That’s advocacy. It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s quiet support that puts someone back at the centre of their own life.

Advocacy in Health and Social Care Means More Than One Type

There isn’t just one kind of advocate. Here are a few types you might hear about:

Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA):

Support people under the Mental Health Act. Help them understand rights around treatment and detention.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCA):

Support people who lack capacity and have no one else to represent them. Help with serious decisions like moving or treatment.

Care Act Advocates:

Help people involved in assessments, care plans, or safeguarding. Support people in taking part when they find it hard to do so.

Non-statutory or Community Advocates:

Support people who don’t qualify for legal advocacy but still need help navigating services or decisions.

What Advocacy Is Not

Let’s bust a few more myths:

• Advocates don’t replace solicitors. They won’t give you legal advice or represent you in court.
• Advocates don’t tell professionals what to do. Their role is to support the person — not to run the process.
• They don’t judge. Their role isn’t to question your choices, only to help you voice them.
• They don’t belong to the care team. They’re separate for a reason.

Why Good Advocates Change Lives (Even in Small Ways)

You might think, “It’s just someone in a meeting.” But that one meeting can shape someone’s next five years.

Advocates help people speak up about things that matter — like where they live, how they’re cared for, or whether they accept treatment.

Without them, some people stay silent. They nod along, stay silent, and never ask for better — not because they agree, but because they feel they can’t speak up.

Advocacy changes that. It hands the mic back to the person who should’ve had it all along.

Why We Need to Talk About Advocacy More

Advocacy still feels like a mystery to many staff. It doesn’t get talked about enough. People don’t know when to suggest it. Or how to find it. Or what it’s for.

But it’s one of the most powerful tools we’ve got. Not for doing things to people, but for doing things with them.

By speaking up, teams can avoid mistakes. People are less likely to be pushed into choices they don’t truly want. Most importantly, it helps build trust.

So let’s talk about it. Let’s use it more. And let’s explain it clearly.

Advocacy Isn’t a Bonus — It’s Basic Respect

Supporting someone means listening. It means involving them. It means standing up for their voice — especially when no one else will.

That’s why advocacy matters. And why we should all understand it, talk about it, and use it properly.

Because everyone deserves to be heard. Not just the loudest. Not just the confident. Everyone.

Want to support people better in real-life care settings? Learn how advocacy works — enrol in our Health and Social Care courses at Course Cave.