In the social care area, advocacy refers to an intervention that informs service users of their rights and choices and supports them in resolving issues that have a great impact on their lives. Research at PSSRU funded by the School for Social Care Research investigated some of the costs and outcomes of advocacy provided to parents with learning disabilities who were at risk of losing their children into care. Parents with learning disabilities are a group affected by multiple disadvantages and experience a higher risk of not receiving the support they need.
In our research we explored some of the economic consequences of advocacy interventions for parents with learning disabilities. Our research is part of a larger study being carried out by the Personal Social Services Research Unit at LSE and funded by the School for Social Care Research. This wider study examines the economic case for a selected but diverse range of social care interventions
that have previously been identified as, or accepted/argued to be effective in achieving well-being or other social care-related outcomes for adults. Partners who were actively involved in this research included Norah Fry Research Centre at Bristol University, Voiceability, Family Rights Group, Advocacy in Greenwich, Action for Advocacy and Dorset Advocacy.