For West Yorkshire Safeguarding Week (22nd-26th June 2026), our Advocacy Services Manager Libby Plum talks about the link between safeguarding and advocacy. She also looks at how listening is vital to ensure everyone we work with feels safe. 

In preparation for West Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Week, I have been reviewing some of our advocacy work and what struck me most was the recurring theme of listening.  

The NDTi defines advocacy as “taking action to support people to say what they want, secure their rights, pursue their interests, and obtain the services they need”. To pursue the correct action, our advocates first need to understand the person they are working with, what drives them, what makes them feel happy and safe. This means spending time with the person you are advocating for and truly listening to their story.  

In a recent audit carried out by Adult Health and Social Care in Leeds, they found that when individuals are asked about what matters to them, outcomes are achieved 82% of the time, compared with only 26% when they were not asked.  

Capturing their desired outcomes in their own words strengthened this even further, with an achievement rate of 87%, compared with 51% when services relied on summaries or second-hand accounts. This led them to conclude “Speaking directly to people isn’t just good practice – it transforms outcomes”. 

Understanding clients’ wishes 

Dennis (not his real name) was in his 40s but had never been in a position to make his own choices. The advocate worked alongside him so that at times he was able to attend meetings and self-advocate and when he indicated that he was struggling to articulate himself the advocate would speak on his behalf.  

Dennis was re-homed but struggled to settle initially, abiding by the rules and mixing with the other residents was difficult for him and he would often ‘disappear’ and go to his Dad’s house. The advocate encouraged professionals not to consider further restrictions on Dennis and instead, they entered into conversation with him around planned visits to his family home.  

This happened because the advocate understood what was motivating Dennis and for him there was more to his feelings of wellbeing than being safe, there was a balance to be achieved between his safety and maintaining family contact.  

Wider issues

Jazz (not her real name) went to live in a nursing home following an admission to hospital. The advocate spent time listening to Jazz and understanding that for Jazz, the safeguarding issues were part of a wider picture of discontent with her care arrangements.  

The advocate worked with Jazz, her social worker and the nursing home staff so that practical changes were made. They included a low bed so that rails were not needed, dedicated support during mealtimes so that she could better eat her fortified meals, increased offers of support to help with mobility and accessing the communal areas of the home.  

About her new bed, Jazz said “if you want to get out, you can” indicating that she felt she had more freedom, choice, and control in her life.

Empowering individuals 

This West Yorkshire Safeguarding Week, I would like to remind us all that a person is so much more than the abuse they may have suffered. By listening and empowering individuals, we can achieve better outcomes.  

Eligibility 

To be eligible for a Care Act Advocate through a safeguarding process, the person must have: 

  • Substantial difficulty in being fully involved in these processes 
  • No appropriate individual available to support and represent the person’s wishes 

See Chapter 7 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance for more information on Care Act Advocacy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance#Chapter7 

In Leeds, referrals for Care Act Advocacy should be made to Advonet: https://advonet.org.uk/referrals/care-act-advocacy-referral-form/