SCIE Resource guide 10: Commissioning and providing mental health advocacy for African and Caribbean men

Stand-alone or as part of an independent mental health organisation

Adherence to standards, clarity around notions of independence.

Greater numbers of advocates, supportive networks, sense of an ‘advocacy community’.

Access to resources and support of ‘second-tier’, capacity-building organisations.

Concentration in inpatient and/or secure services should ensure access for most individuals.

Good quality of advocacy provision results in satisfaction in service (including for black partners) for those who make use of advocacy. Effectiveness of advocacy spreads by word of mouth.

Criticised as ‘colour-blind’ and unlikely to serve African and Caribbean men well unless specific measures adopted to tackle inequalities in access.

Lack of a proactive approach by many services results in those in most need having the worst access to advocacy – arguably this includes black service users.

The predominantly white advocacy workforce is a barrier to the uptake of advocacy by black partners. Arguably the professionalisation/
standardisation agenda in the wider advocacy community (despite some attention, notably around asylum seekers and bi-lingual advocacy) has been relatively neglectful of specific equality and diversity issues.

Often organised to serve particular practice locations, such as inpatient, for example. Difficulties in tracking clients across sectors (for example from inpatient to community setting).

Generic advocacy

Shares most of the strengths and weaknesses as for care group advocacy.

Co-location with advocacy for other care groups has potential to facilitate access to – and development of – a broader range of advocacy (collective advocacy; self-advocacy; case work advocacy; citizen advocacy) and therefore increases choice.

As above. Significant barriers in relation to access, and also widely criticised as ‘colour-blind’.

Certain sectors and client groups/citizens require specialist services with a specialised knowledge base.

The location in the voluntary sector leads to difficulties balancing service requirements against resources; insecurity of funding hampers quality developments and future planning.