Empowerment and Advocacy for Users’ Interests

Abstract

Community care policy fosters clients’ choice as an important part of the service. This is partly for political reasons, since the government’s commitment to a market system requires potential consumers to have enough information to make informed decisions about their requirements. Markets only succeed in advancing competition if there are alternatives to choose from, and choice is only possible if clients know about possible alternatives. In addition to this, professional opinion has been developing a concern for user participation in professional decisions, and theory and methodology about empowerment and advocacy.