Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about IAPK? View some of our frequently asked questions below.
If we don’t have an answer for you here, feel free to get in touch through our Contact Form.
An independent advocate’s primary role is to ensure that you are aware of your human rights and responsibilities and that your voice is heard in circumstances that affect your life. For more information on what an independent advocate can do for you, visit our homepage. To read more about our service overall, click here.
An independent advocate cannot and will never offer any advice, only information on your rights and responsibilities. This includes legal advice or attending court proceedings. However, we are happy to put you in touch with a solicitor who can assist with this.
We can't guarantee an exact timeline for being allocated an independent advocate. It depends on a few factors, such as the advocacy issue itself and how many cases we're currently advocating for.
Once a referral is sent to us, this is passed on to our Allocations team. Referrals are reviewed and allocated to an independent advocate at least twice a week.
If we cannot assist with a referral, our Duty Team will be in touch as soon as possible to let you know and recommend other services where appropriate.
You're always welcome to contact us to ask if your referral has been allocated.
There are some circumstances that we must legally allocate an independent advocate within a certain amount of time, such as Short Term Detention Orders and Children's Hearings.
If you have any further questions about this, we're happy to help. Our details and Contact Form are available through our Contact Page.
Yes! You can find your local independent advocacy service with the SIAA’s ‘Find an Advocate’ map. This tool will also show you the groups each service supports.
No - Independent advocacy is free. Finances should never be a barrier to having your voice heard and your human rights respected.
Under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, Health Boards and Local Authorities have a duty to fund independent advocacy.
Many Health Boards and Local Authorities also fund independent advocacy for people other than those affected by the Mental Health Act. Other funders include the Scottish Government, the National Lottery, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and a number of small trusts and foundations.
No - To ensure that advocacy is free from conflicts of interest, advocacy organisations should only provide independent advocacy.
Yes - Your independent advocate should have explained the organisation’s complaints procedure at the start of your advocacy partnership.
The complaints procedure can also be found here.
Making a Referral
Could we help you or someone you know?
Once we receive your referral, our office team will give your case to the appropriate independent advocate. Once they have been handed your case, they will get in touch with you to arrange a meeting.
Don’t worry if you have questions or updates about your referral before your independent advocate reaches out, you’re welcome to contact us by phone, email, or in person.