Advocacy
What is an Advocate?
An advocate is someone who can support or represent you when
dealing with everyday problems or in times of crisis. They can
offer you support and information on how you can access your
rights. They act on your behalf if you don’t have the confidence to
act for yourself. They can talk to Health, Social Services or other
organisations on your behalf.
Who can Appoint an Advocate?
Anyone can appoint an advocate.
How do I Nominate an Advocate?
There are a range of agencies who offer an advocacy service. For
details contact your local Social Care Team.
Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney is a legal document whereby one person (the
"Donor") gives another person or persons (the "Attorney") the power
to act on his or her behalf with regard to his or her property and
financial affairs.
The most common types of Power of Attorney in England and Wales
are:
- Ordinary Power of Attorney- which can be general or limited to
specific affairs
- Enduring Power of Attorney- which can be used in the event of
the donor's mental incapacity.
Usually, an Ordinary Power of Attorney is created for a set
period of time in cases where the Donor is going abroad or is
unable to act for some other reason and wishes someone else to have
the authority to act on his or her behalf. An Ordinary Power of
Attorney will usually end either at a specified time or upon the
request of the Donor at any time using a Deed of Revocation and
will automatically be revoked if the Donor loses mental capacity.
There is no requirement for the Ordinary Power of Attorney to be
registered.
In contrast, an Enduring Power of Attorney allows the Donor to
appoint a legally authorised person to look after their property
and financial affairs should they become incapable of doing so
themselves at some point in the future. It continues after the
Donor has become mentally incapable of managing his or her affairs
and must be registered when the Attorney becomes aware or has
reason to believe that the Donor has become or is becoming mentally
incapable.
Age Concern produce a factsheet on Legal
Arrangements for Managing Finances.
Wills and Testaments
See the
Community Legal Service website for information.