Free service launched to support people in Shetland with health and care decisions
This month (July) we’ve started a new contract with Shetland Islands Council to provide an advocacy service for adults and children across Shetland to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing.
The service includes supporting and empowering someone to communicate their views and wishes, understand their rights, and make their own choices with things like Mental Health Act tribunals, communicating with health and social care professionals, and making a complaint.
Tracey Miller, our Shetland advocate
This is in addition to our Scotland-wide advocacy service, which has been supporting disabled people across the country to access benefits since April 2022.
Jo Robinson, Director of Community Health and Social Care for Shetland Islands Council, said:
I’m delighted that the independent advocacy contract has been awarded to VoiceAbility, a charity who already have a presence in Shetland.
“This will enable people who require this service to access advocacy face to face as well as online, written and telephone support.”
Emily Johnston, VoiceAbility’s Operations Manager for Scotland, said:
“We’re really pleased to be supporting more people in Shetland, using our experience of providing local advocacy services in other areas of Scotland to ensure residents’ voices are heard and their rights respected.
“We already have a dedicated advocate working in Shetland as part of our benefits advocacy service, and through this new contract we’re able to provide a wider range of advocacy support to residents in the way they would like — whether that’s face to face, over the phone or online.
“While we’ve already established relationships with organisations like the Living Well Hub and Anchor for Families, we’re keen to work with community partners and support networks across the area to reach as many people who need our services as possible.
“If you think you, or a friend or family member could benefit from support to be heard and understand your rights, you can call us for free on 0300 303 1660 or make a referral for support on our website.”