A Citizen Advocate is a person free from control or direction of service providers or purchasers and able to think and act freely on behalf of another in order to defend their human rights.

This may involve helping to express the individuals concerns and aspirations and providing practical and emotional support

A Citizen Advocate's relationship with their partner is that of a partnership of equals. He or she is not doing something for their partner but with their partner. Ideally, he or she should be enable their partner, with support if necessary, to be their own advocate.

When we at DIAS receive a referral for the services of a Citizen Advocate we will visit the potential user to assess the need for advocacy, to explain how the service works. We will then select from our group of volunteers, the person with the relevant experience and personal qualities to suit the user and introduce them to each other.

Thereafter we expect the Citizen Advocate's first loyalty to be to their partner. They will keep a brief record of their contact with their partner. To observe confidentiality these records will neither identify the partner by name nor reveal any other identifiable details about them.

Citizen Advocates are volunteers who are selected by a process of interview and induction training. Personal references are taken up and an Enhanced Disclosure is requested.

Citizen Advocates are supported by the project's paid staff and receive ongoing training and group support sessions.

They are bound by the code of practice of DIAS and must strictly observe confidentiality in their work. Their loyalty is first and foremost to their partner and they will observe the wishes of their partner, withdrawing if they so wish.