Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

When a person cannot communicate their views or wishes in a way that can be understood by other people, then advocates may use recognised approaches to ensure that what may matter most to the person is represented. Advocates will need to take additional steps to determine as far as possible what the person's likely wishes, feelings and desired outcomes are likely to be, to best represent the person. The advocate's role in non-instructed advocacy may include: upholding the person's rights; making sure that their likely concerns are recognised and responded to; ensuring access to support; and encouraging decisions to be taken based on what is important for the person, and challenging any that appear not to be. A person's ability to communicate what is important to them might fluctuate and advocates may move between using non-instructed advocacy and using instructed advocacy.