Self-Advocacy Guide
We have put together a Self-Advocacy Guide for you to understand your rights in care. The guide details the relevant legislation and regulations that protect your right to a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Download a copy of the Self-Advocacy Guide.
Alternatively you can purchase a paper copy, or by calling 0161 257 0887.
Self-Advocacy: further reading and resources
VfL has created a simple carers’ reminder poster to help ensure vegan and vegetarian diets are respected in home care. Read more about the carers’ reminder poster or order your poster from our shop.
These links take you to external sites. They give more information about the rules and regulations that are referred to in the Self-Advocacy Guide.
Vegetarian for Life
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism Inquiry Report
- V for Life Care Home List
- V for Life Memory Care Pledge
- Statement of Wishes (PDF)
Regulators
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Care Inspectorate Scotland
- Good Care for Vegetarians and Vegans
- Care Inspectorate Wales
- Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
Legislation and regulation
- Casamitjana Costa v The League Against Cruel Sports 2020 ruling
- The Care Quality Commission information on guidance and regulations (England)
- RQIA information on guidance and regulations (Northern Ireland)
- Care Inspectorate information on guidance and regulations (Scotland)
- Care Inspectorate information on guidance and regulations (Wales)
Mental Capacity Acts
- Mental Capacity Act (England and Wales)
- Mencap overview of the Mental Capacity Act (England and Wales)
- Adults with Incapacity Act (Scotland)
- Mental Capacity Codes of Practice (Northern Ireland)
Hospital complaints and advice
- NHS England, Hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
- NHS Wales, Community Health Council
- NHS Scotland, Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS)
- NHS Northern Ireland, Patient and Client Council
- Northern Ireland information about making complaints
Local Government Ombudsmen
- England: Local Government Ombudsman
- Wales: Public Services Ombudsman
- Scotland: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
- Northern Ireland: Public Services Ombudsman
Mental Welfare Commission (Scotland)
Further links
- Alzheimer’s Society ‘This is me’ form for people going into care. Can be used to record important details, such as diet, for people entering care.
Further links (Scotland)
- Healthcare Improvement Scotland guide to anticipatory care planning.
- Alzheimer Scotland ‘Getting to know me’ form for people entering a care setting. This form allows space for a person to explain how they want to be cared for.
- Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Advance Statement In Scotland, those who may lose capacity are encouraged to complete advance statements, explaining their wishes for if they lose capacity. The link offers further information about this process.
