Who is Developing the qualification?
Once the gap in training provision for advocates was identified, the Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government were keen to support a national approach to raising the capacity of the advocacy sector and to improving the quality of advocacy available to service users.
The Department of Health Mental Capacity Act implementation project team funded a full time post for an advocacy training qualification development manager.
Although the project has been initiated and funded by the DH there is no
intention that the DH will lead the development of the advocacy
qualification without significant contributions from the advocacy sector. The Department recognises the independence of advocacy and believes the advocacy sector has an essential role in determining the
content, length and level of the qualification. They have therefore
resourced a Working Group with representatives from advocacy services,
trainers and service users to work through the detail of development and
delivery of the qualification.
Commissioners of advocacy services will also have important things to say about the level and content of the course.
Kate Mercer has been appointed as the Advocacy Training Qualification Development Manager. Kate has worked in children's advocacy for five years as an advocacy trainer and developed a number of nationally accredited training programmes in advocacy, training young trainers, peer advocacy and children's rights. Before this she managed a residential children's home and taught music in a secondary school.
To get in touch with Kate send an email to kate.mercer@csip.org.uk.