Wirral Advocacy and Involvement Services Partnership (WAISP)
WAISP is a partnership of 6 organisations, all of whom have a contract with the Department of Adult Social Services to provide advocacy to a wide range of people who use services. The members include:
Age Concern Wirral – older people
Advocacy in Wirral – mental health
Safeguarding Children Services – looked after children up to 24 yrs old
Wired – adults and children with physical disabilities, direct payments and carers
Wirral MIND – learning disabilities
Wirral Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted – blind and partially sighted
Each of the organisations has at least one advocate who is funded, or partly funded, by Social Services. However, most of the organisations also have Advocates who are funded via other streams.
Advocacy in Wirral hold the contract for the co-ordination of the Advocacy Partnership and hosts the employment of the WAISP Co-ordinator. This function enables regular joint working and liaison between the respective organisations. WAISP is widely regarded both within the Borough and nationally as an example of good practice in terms of its structure, and evidence of genuine partnership working, and an example of this would be the provision of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service, which is co-ordinated and delivered by members of the partnership.
What do the Advocates do?
The Advocates assist people with a wide range of issues. They aim to help to empower people to speak out for themselves, support and represent those who need help in making their views heard, and assist in protecting the rights of individuals
Examples ….
- Supporting a client through a process – medication review, housing, care planning, etc.
- Accessing services
- Making a complaint – NHS, Social Services, any other service
This is not an exhaustive list, if you are unsure if an Advocate can help you, please ask.
Structure of Partnership
The WAISP Coordinator helps in facilitating the 6 organisations to work together to provide an equitable service across Wirral and the client groups. The Steering Group meets regularly and is attended by the Chief Executive or a Trustee of each of the organisations, and a representative from the Department of Adult Social Services. They oversee the work carried out by the Coordinator and plan the priorities of the Partnership to formulate an Action Plan.
The Advocates meet monthly to share good practice, discuss updates in the law and guidance and to meet with a representative from Social Services to discuss developments and working practices. All the Advocates from the member organisations are invited, regardless of how their posts are funded or whether they are voluntary or paid. Advocates from other organisations also are included, such as the BME Support Service. The Coordinator facilitates these meetings, arranges speakers, and brings together topics for discussion.
Other work carried out by the Coordinator includes:
- Working closely with and supporting all Advocates regardless of where they are managed from.
- Maintaining effective communication between Advocates and their organisations
- Maintaining effective communication between the Partnership organisations
- Dissemination of information across all Advocacy Services
- Facilitating training for Advocates and when appropriate delivering the same.
- Working with Advocates to identify similar trends in service areas and supporting Advocates, where requested, in consultation issues.
- Facilitating the Advocates and Steering Group meetings with the Department of Adult Social Services
