Standards of Practice
General
- An Advocate shall function in accordance with relevant legislation and the PPAO's policies, procedures, guidelines, and directives.
- An Advocate shall represent his or her client competently, responsibly, and in a timely manner.
- An Advocate shall act for the client in the least adversarial manner that is effective and shall adhere to the principle of least contest in the pursuit of advocacy activities.
- An Advocate shall strive to improve his or her own skills, knowledge, and practice.
- An Advocate shall take all necessary steps (including the use of an interpreter or alternate communication system) to communicate with patients who are unable to communicate in the language of the Advocate.
- An Advocate shall maintain adequate records consistent with the PPAO's established documentation policy.
- An Advocate shall identify, and make the client aware of, individual, community, and family support systems available when appropriate to the case.
- An Advocate shall endeavour to develop partnerships with clients to involve them directly in making decisions about advocacy activities and in advocating on their behalf. Wherever possible, the goal is to enable the client to engage in self-advocacy.
- An Advocate shall not assist a client to exercise legal rights which the client does not have.
- An Advocate shall not disclose confidential information about a patient or former patient without the patient's consent, except as required or permitted by law.
Instructed Advocacy
- An Advocate shall provide instructed advocacy services consistent with the basic principles of self-determination and client empowerment and according to PPAO policy and procedures on the practice of instructed advocacy.
- An advocate shall not follow a client's instructions:
- where an Advocate determines the client is incapable of instructing;
- where the instruction might further an illegal act;
- where to do so would pose a serious risk of harm to the client or another;
- where the action is constrained by the existence of a legally imposed limitation (as in a restraining order); or
- where the instruction constitutes a frivolous or vexatious request. An Advocate may choose not to follow a client's instructions where the client has the means and the ability to act on his or her own behalf or where resources and priorities do not permit.
- An Advocate shall ensure that clients are fully informed about advocacy activities undertaken, about information which is gathered in the course of advocacy and about resonable alternatives, implications of actions and potential outcomes. Unless required by law, and subject to available resources, an Advocate shall not withhold relevant information from the client.
- An Advocate shall take resonable steps to determine a client's capacity where his or her capacity to instruct the Advocate is in question.
Non-Instructed Advocacy
- An Advocate shall provide non-instructed advocacy services on behalf of incapable clients in order to redress abridgements of legal rights, therapeutic or social entitlements which imperil the client's health, property, personal security, or human dignity according to PPAO policy and procedures on the practice of non-instructed advocacy.
- At all times the Advocate shall try to ascertain the wishes of the incapable client. The Advocate shall respect any prior, capable wishes of the client if these are known. Where previous capable wishes are unknown, or the Advocate is unable to discern the client's wishes, the Advocate shall act only to protect the client's rights and entitlements to good quality care.
- An Advocate shall not act as a formal or informal substitute decision maker for a patient.
- Where the client has a guardian or attorney, an Advocate shall not take any actions which would interfere with the lawful exercise of authority by the guardian or attorney. However, an Advocate may inform the client of his or her rights and specific circumstances, negotiate on his or her behalf, or assist the client to formally challenge the authority of the guardian or attorney.
Systemic Advocacy
An Advocate shall provide systemic advocacy services which advance the legal rights, therapeutic and social entitlements, quality of life and care, and the empowerment of patients according to the PPAO policy and procedures on the practice of systemic advocacy.
Rights Advice
An Advocate shall provide rights advice services as required by law and according to established PPAO practices and procedures.
Withdrawal of Services
An Advocate shall not withdraw services, except for good cause, with notice appropriate in the circumstances, and upon arranging alternate advocacy services for the client at their request.
