Introduction

This discussion paper addresses the topic of social work advocacy. The paper is presented in the context of the growing prominence of advocacy in recent years and the fact that advocacy is moving into the mainstream of health and social care provision. At a policy level the notion of advocacy is evident in a number of official policy documents. Advocacy has a long tradition in Ireland in the area of political representation, voluntary organisations, community groups and campaigning (Comhairle, 2003). Specifically, the Special Interest Group on Ageing (SIGA) is concerned to outline the importance of Social Work Advocacy in the context of the recent development by the Health Service Executive of the National Advocacy Programme which is targeted at older people in residential care.... for more information click here...