Independent Advocacy

Independent Advocacy in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Cornwall Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, and the NHS are working together to design the future of Independent Advocacy for people of all ages.

We can’t do this alone. We want to hear from anyone interested in people’s rights and voices—residents, family members and carers, and community groups.

What is Independent Advocacy?

Independent Advocacy helps you:

• have your say
• understand your rights
• be fully involved in decisions about your life

Advocates are independent. They work for you, not for the Council, the NHS, or any other service.

Why this project?

Health and care systems can feel confusing. If you’re dealing with social care, health treatment, mental health, being in care or leaving care, safeguarding, or making a concern or complaint, advocacy helps make sure you are listened to and understood.

We’re reviewing how advocacy works now and what needs to improve so support is fair, accessible, and there when people need it. A new service is planned to start in April 2027.

What we want to learn

We’re asking about:

• What people want from Independent Advocacy
• Access and awareness of Independent Advocacy
• How advocacy is provided
• How advocacy is arranged and supported

Your insights—whether from personal experience or supporting others—will help shape a service that truly works.

By working together, we aim to create an Independent Advocacy service that protects people’s rights, supports independence, and helps people feel confident, informed, and heard.

Take part

Email: adultscommissioning@cornwall.gov.uk

Survey: Please complete our short survey on Let’s Talk Cornwall to help shape Independent Advocacy in Cornwall.
Closing date: 23 May 2026

About this survey

• You can share your experiences of Independent Advocacy.
• You can answer for yourself or for someone you know.
• You can skip any question.
• You do not have to give your name.
• Estimated time: 15 minutes.

Privacy Notice 

We will use the information you provide to inform the Independent Advocacy Project 

The Data Controller for the information you provide in this survey is Cornwall Council, New County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro TR1 3AY. Data Protection Registration Number: Z1745294. Once the survey has closed, your data will be held within Cornwall Council’s secure network and premises for up to 2 years. Where we ask you to supply personal data on this form, we will only make access to this data available to authorised members of staff who are required to process it for the purposes outlined in this privacy notice. Please note that other information you provide, such as responses to open questions, may be published in full.

For more information, please see our full privacy policy(External link).

Independent Advocacy in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Cornwall Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, and the NHS are working together to design the future of Independent Advocacy for people of all ages.

We can’t do this alone. We want to hear from health and social care staff and volunteers across statutory services, providers, and the VCSE sector.

What is Independent Advocacy?

Independent Advocacy helps the people you support to:

• have their say
• understand their rights
• be fully involved in decisions about their lives

Advocates are independent. They work for the person, not for the Council, the NHS, or any other service. They work alongside you to support rights‑based, person‑led processes across statutory (e.g., Care Act, IMCA/IMHA, children and care leavers) and non‑statutory advocacy (e.g., issue‑based, peer, group, community).

Why this project?

Health and care systems can be complex. Advocacy helps ensure people are listened to and understood in situations such as assessments and reviews, care planning, health interventions, making complaints and safeguarding processes (including where people may be deprived of their liberty) 

We’re reviewing how advocacy works now—pathways, referrals, access, timeliness, and interactions with services—so support is fair, accessible, and there when people need it. A new service is planned to start in April 2027. Engagement is underway now, with a particular focus from February to April.

What we want to learn

We’re asking about:

• What people want from Independent Advocacy
• Access and awareness of Independent Advocacy
• How advocacy is provided
• How advocacy is arranged and supported

As key partners in people’s day‑to‑day health, care and support—and through your cooperation with advocates—we’re asking for your help in shaping the new model. We welcome practical support such as sharing the survey, linking us into existing groups/forums, enabling reflective staff discussions, and helping people you support to respond in their own words where needed. We’ll work flexibly around existing arrangements.

By working together, we aim to create an Independent Advocacy service that protects people’s rights, supports independence, and helps people feel confident, informed, and heard.

Take part

Email: adultscommissioning@cornwall.gov.uk

Survey: Please complete our short staff survey on Let’s Talk Cornwall to help shape Independent Advocacy in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Closing date: 23 May 2026

About this survey

• You can share your professional experience of working with Independent Advocacy (statutory and non‑statutory).
• You can answer as an individual practitioner, manager, or on behalf of your team/service.
• You can skip any question.
• You do not have to give your name. Please do not include identifiable personal information about the people you support.

Estimated time: 15 minutes.

Privacy Notice 

We will use the information you provide to inform the Independent Advocacy Project 

The Data Controller for the information you provide in this survey is Cornwall Council, New County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro TR1 3AY. Data Protection Registration Number: Z1745294. Once the survey has closed, your data will be held within Cornwall Council’s secure network and premises for up to 2 years. Where we ask you to supply personal data on this form, we will only make access to this data available to authorised members of staff who are required to process it for the purposes outlined in this privacy notice. Please note that other information you provide, such as responses to open questions, may be published in full.

For more information, please see our full privacy policy(External link).