Monday, 8 September 2025

📘 Easy Read: Advocacy, Negotiation & Listening

 

🔍 Research and Feedback

  • Advocates help clients know their options.

  • Advocates explain the consequences (what could happen) of each choice.

  • Advocates should never force a client to decide.


🤝 Negotiation and Litigation

  • Negotiation = talking and reaching an agreement.

  • Litigation (court) = last choice.

    • Very expensive.

    • Very stressful.

    • The judge decides, not the client.


👂 Listening Skills

  • Advocates should listen carefully.

  • Show interest with nodding, eye contact, and body language.

  • Use open questions (What do you think…?)

  • Use closed questions (Do you like…?).

  • Mirroring: copy the client’s body language to build trust.


🗣️ Communication Methods

Different people need different support:

  • British Sign Language (BSL) ✋

  • Braille for blind people ⠿

  • Singalong for Autism 🎵

  • Makaton 👐

  • Talking Mats 🗂️

  • Widgit / Symbol World 🖼️

  • Clear For All – easy words 📄


📋 Case Study: Care Home

  • A daughter is worried her mother is not cared for properly.

  • She should:

    • Write down dates and times.

    • Take photos if needed.

    • Speak to the manager.

    • Write a complaint letter.

    • Contact CQC (Care Quality Commission) if things get worse.


📝 Advocacy vs Negotiation

  • Advocacy = standing up for the client’s rights.

  • Negotiation = finding a deal between two sides.

  • Sometimes we need both.

Examples:

  • Electricity bill too high → negotiate payments.

  • DSS refusing a grant → negotiate smaller amount.

  • Long waiting list at hospital → advocacy + negotiation.

  • Housing transfer with rent arrears → negotiate + advocate.


🧠 Negotiation Strategy Example

  • John lost his wife Anna in hospital.

  • She had signed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.

  • John was not told.

  • As an advocate:

    • Explain the law.

    • Help John talk with the doctors.

    • Negotiate an apology or explanation.


📝 Quiz Questions

  1. What should an advocate never do?

  2. What is the difference between negotiation and litigation?

  3. Why is litigation the last option?

  4. Give two ways an advocate can show they are listening.

  5. What is an open question?

  6. Name two communication tools for people with disabilities.

  7. What should the daughter do if she is worried about her mother’s care home?

  8. When is negotiation used instead of advocacy?

  9. What is mirroring?

  10. Why must information be in Easy Read or clear format?

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