Adult Advocacy Support (18+)
Helping you understand your options, express your views, communicate your needs and navigate services with confidence. Personalised, strengths-based advocacy focused on making sure your voice is heard and your wishes are respected.
Welcome to Lycali's Adult Advocacy Service
Navigating health, social care, education, employment and other services can sometimes feel complicated or overwhelming.
You may be trying to understand information, communicate concerns, prepare for a meeting or request appropriate support and adjustments.
Lycali's adult advocacy service provides personalised assistance to help you understand your circumstances, explore available options and communicate what matters to you.
We take a respectful, person-centred and neuro-affirming approach, recognising that everyone has different communication preferences, support needs and goals.
Our role is to support you to understand information, express your wishes, ask questions and participate in decisions that affect you.
We do not make decisions on your behalf or determine what outcome you should pursue.
You can access advocacy whether or not you have a confirmed autism, ADHD, learning difficulty or other neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
Support is based on your circumstances, communication needs and advocacy goals.
Important: Before Your First Appointment
All required registration, consent and pre-session questionnaires must be completed before any booked advocacy appointment can take place.
Please review your welcome letter, terms and conditions and invoice carefully. If documentation remains outstanding, the appointment may need to be rearranged.
At a Glance
Follow the stages below to understand Lycali's Adult Advocacy Pathway.
Initial Enquiry & Registration
When you contact Lycali, our team will discuss your current circumstances and the reasons you are seeking advocacy.
We may ask about the services involved, difficulties accessing support, communication needs, upcoming meetings or decisions you are facing.
If you decide to proceed, you will be invited to complete registration through our clinical management system.
- Your contact information.
- Relevant personal circumstances.
- Current health, education, employment or social care involvement.
- Existing professional support arrangements.
- Communication and accessibility preferences.
- Upcoming meetings or important deadlines.
- Any existing plans or relevant documentation.
- Your consent and information-sharing preferences.
Please tell us about any reasonable adjustments or communication support that would make the service more accessible.
Your Welcome Letter & Documents
Following registration, Lycali will issue welcome information explaining the agreed advocacy service and next steps.
Terms & Conditions
Information about advocacy arrangements, confidentiality, appointments, cancellations and responsibilities.
Invoice
Confirmation of the agreed fees, payment arrangements and additional charges, if they apply.
Consent to Service
Documentation confirming your agreement to the advocacy service, including relevant information-sharing permissions.
Please review and complete all mandatory registration and consent forms.
Advocacy consultations and support appointments cannot take place until the required documentation has been completed.
Payment & Appointment Booking
Your invoice will explain the agreed advocacy fee and payment arrangements.
Once payment has been received in accordance with the agreed terms, and mandatory documentation is complete, Lycali can progress your booking.
Our administration team will confirm the appointment date, time, practitioner and whether the consultation will take place online, at a clinic or another agreed location.
Please let us know about any important deadlines, meetings, documents or accessibility requirements relevant to your enquiry.
Pre-Advocacy Questionnaires Through WriteUpp
Before your consultation, Lycali may request information about the circumstances leading you to seek advocacy.
All required questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp, Lycali's clinical management system.
Links will be emailed separately. Please complete the required forms before your appointment.
- Your current concerns and priorities.
- Services or organisations involved.
- Communication and accessibility needs.
- Barriers to accessing support.
- Previous meetings or correspondence.
- Important deadlines or upcoming decisions.
- What you would like help communicating.
- The outcomes you wish to pursue.
Please allow sufficient uninterrupted time to complete each questionnaire in one sitting.
Questionnaires cannot be saved part-way through or resubmitted once submitted.
Please review your responses before selecting Submit.
Allow Enough Time
Have any relevant documents or background information available.
Cannot Save Progress
Partially completed questionnaires cannot be saved and resumed later.
One Submission Only
Once submitted, the same questionnaire link cannot be used again.
If you would like a copy of submitted questionnaire responses, please contact Lycali.
We can share copies subject to appropriate identity and information-sharing checks.
If you notice an error after submitting a form, please contact our team.
All required registration, consent and pre-session questionnaires must be completed before the relevant advocacy appointment.
Your Initial Advocacy Consultation
The initial consultation gives you an opportunity to explain your circumstances, discuss current concerns and identify how advocacy may help.
Your advocate will listen to your views, discuss your priorities and help identify appropriate next steps.
- Your current situation and concerns.
- Communication difficulties with services.
- Access to health or social care support.
- Educational or workplace concerns.
- Reasonable adjustments and accessibility.
- Professional meetings or assessments.
- Existing support arrangements.
- Reports, correspondence or decisions received.
- Your preferences, priorities and desired outcomes.
You will normally attend the consultation directly with your advocate.
A partner, family member or trusted supporter may attend where appropriate and with your agreement.
Your wishes, communication preferences and consent will guide their involvement.
Understanding Your Priorities & Desired Outcomes
Advocacy begins with understanding what matters most to you.
You may already know what you want to achieve, or you may need time and support to explore your options.
- Understanding information you have received.
- Feeling listened to by professionals.
- Communicating concerns or preferences.
- Understanding available services and support.
- Preparing for meetings or reviews.
- Requesting appropriate reasonable adjustments.
- Understanding decisions made by organisations.
- Clarifying the next steps in a process.
- Participating in decisions affecting your life.
Your advocate will help you identify key questions, organise relevant information and decide what you would like support with.
Areas of Adult Advocacy Support
Advocacy may be helpful across different areas of adult life, depending on your circumstances and the agreed scope of support.
Health & Healthcare Advocacy
Support may include preparing for appointments, understanding information, communicating concerns and participating in discussions about your care.
Social Care & Support Services
Advocacy may help you understand processes, communicate your wishes and prepare for relevant meetings or discussions.
Where statutory independent advocacy is required, this may need to be arranged through an appropriate commissioned provider.
Employment & Workplace Advocacy
Support may involve helping you explain your needs, prepare for workplace meetings or communicate requested adjustments.
This does not automatically include employment law advice, tribunal representation or formal HR representation.
Education & Training
Adults in education or training may seek support with communicating learning needs, asking questions about available support or preparing for meetings with education providers.
Neurodivergent Advocacy
Advocacy may support adults with autism, ADHD, dyslexia or other neurodivergent profiles to express communication preferences, explain support needs, request adjustments and participate in decisions.
Accessing Information & Services
Advocacy may involve helping you understand correspondence, identify questions, prepare responses and navigate relevant service processes.
Lycali's advocacy service is distinct from regulated legal advice, professional legal representation, diagnostic assessment, counselling, coaching and therapy.
We do not automatically provide statutory Care Act advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) or Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA).
Where a statutory or legally specialist advocacy service is needed, we will discuss appropriate referral or signposting.
Meetings & Communication With Professionals
Advocacy may help you prepare for important meetings and communicate effectively with professionals or organisations.
Depending on the agreed service, your advocate may support you before, during or after meetings.
- Preparing a list of questions or concerns.
- Organising information before meetings.
- Identifying the points you want to raise.
- Discussing accessible communication arrangements.
- Supporting your participation in agreed meetings.
- Helping draft correspondence.
- Clarifying responses received from services.
- Reviewing agreed actions after meetings.
- Helping you identify next steps.
Lycali will not routinely contact your employer, healthcare provider, social care professional or other organisation without appropriate authorisation.
Liaison, correspondence and meeting attendance will be agreed in advance.
Advocacy does not guarantee that another organisation will accept a request or change a decision.
Your Personalised Advocacy Plan
Following your initial consultation, Lycali will work with you to identify the agreed scope of advocacy and next steps.
Support will reflect your own priorities, rather than a predetermined set of goals.
- Your main concerns.
- Your wishes and preferences.
- Agreed advocacy goals.
- Documents or correspondence to review.
- Relevant appointments or deadlines.
- People or organisations involved.
- Actions agreed with your advocate.
- Expected timescales and review arrangements.
Your advocate will help you understand options and communicate your preferences.
Decisions remain yours wherever you have capacity to make them, with appropriate support where required.
The advocate does not automatically gain authority to make decisions or act as your legal representative.
Ongoing Advocacy Support
Some adults may only need one consultation or support preparing for a specific meeting.
Others may benefit from advocacy across several stages of an ongoing process.
- Further consultations.
- Preparation for meetings.
- Attendance at agreed meetings.
- Reviewing relevant correspondence.
- Helping prepare written communications.
- Supporting communication with organisations.
- Clarifying agreed actions.
- Reviewing progress towards advocacy goals.
Any additional meetings, consultations, professional liaison or document review will be discussed and agreed before the work takes place.
This ensures you understand the scope of the service and any additional fees.
Progress Review & Outcomes
Your advocate will review progress towards the priorities identified during your consultation.
The review may consider whether your concerns have been communicated, what responses have been received and what needs to happen next.
- Whether your views have been clearly communicated.
- Whether relevant information has been clarified.
- Responses received from organisations.
- Progress on agreed actions.
- Outstanding concerns or questions.
- Upcoming meetings or deadlines.
- Whether further advocacy is needed.
- Appropriate referrals or next steps.
Advocacy aims to support your participation, understanding and communication.
It cannot guarantee a particular decision from a local authority, healthcare provider, employer, educational setting or another service.
Next Steps & Further Support
At the end of the agreed advocacy work, we will discuss whether further support is required or whether the current advocacy goals have been addressed.
Some adults will feel confident continuing independently, while others may benefit from further advocacy or specialist advice.
- Continuing independently using agreed information.
- Following up actions with relevant organisations.
- Further advocacy appointments.
- Referral to statutory advocacy services where required.
- Specialist legal or employment advice.
- Additional communication support.
- Other specialist assessment or support services.
Adult advocacy does not automatically include neurodivergent coaching, psychological therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, functional needs assessment or diagnostic assessment.
Any further Lycali services and associated fees will be discussed separately before booking.
Session Fees & Additional Charges (If They Apply)
Your advocacy consultation fee and any agreed ongoing support charges will be confirmed before booking and detailed in your invoice.
The total cost will depend on the scope of the agreed service, including consultations, meetings or additional professional work.
Some appointments may involve travel or external clinic hire costs.
These charges do not apply to every appointment.
They may apply where an advocate travels to a meeting or another agreed location, or external premises are required away from Lycali's main Broadstairs base.
If additional charges apply, they will be confirmed before booking and clearly outlined in your invoice.
Additional document review, professional correspondence or meeting attendance may also involve separately agreed fees where outside the initial scope.
Cancellation & Non-Attendance Policy
Lycali operates a 24-hour cancellation policy for booked advocacy appointments.
Please contact our administration team as early as possible if you cannot attend an appointment.
At Least 24 Hours' Notice
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment.
The full late-cancellation charge will not apply where sufficient notice is given.
Less Than 24 Hours' Notice
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are chargeable at the full booked session rate.
Did Not Attend (DNA)
An appointment missed without cancellation will be recorded as Did Not Attend.
DNA appointments are charged at the full booked session rate.
How to Cancel
Please notify Lycali's administration team as soon as you know an appointment cannot go ahead.
Please refer to your welcome letter and terms and conditions for full cancellation arrangements, including applicable statutory rights.
Useful Links & Information
Explore Lycali's multidisciplinary team, service information, locations and fees.
Need Support?
If you would like to discuss advocacy, require help with registration or questionnaires, or have questions about appointments and fees, please contact Lycali.
Our administration team can assist with appointment arrangements, documentation and general service enquiries.
Email: info@lycali.co.uk
Website: www.lycali.co.uk
All required registration, consent and pre-session questionnaires must be completed before a booked advocacy appointment.
Required questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp and must be completed in one sitting. They cannot be saved part-way through or resubmitted.
Please review your appointment confirmation, invoice, any additional charges (if they apply) and cancellation policy before attending.