I’ve been following this thread for a while and only got involved this morning. I think the answer is pretty straightforward, and at the same time quite problematic.
There are often conflicts of interest between different people in these circumstances (patient, family, NR, care team, including within the MDT)
It is important that people are clear what is the advocate’s role.
For standard directed advocacy, it is to represent the patient’s (or service user’s) wishes and act as their spokesperson, as they are likely to be less able to express their wishes due to the illness or impairment they are experiencing.
This may well be against the wishes of the family or carers, and often against the views of the NHS or local authority.
If the person lacks capacity, and the advocate is acting in an IMCA role (under the Mental Capacity Act), then (in non-directed advocacy) the advocate has a duty to support the person through the process, ensure their voice is heard, and ensure that the statutory decision-making process is followed. Again, this may not go down well with other network members (professionals or otherwise).
Any concerns that the advocate isn’t working to their remit should be addressed to the advocacy organisation, ideally after raising it direct with the advocate. As the commissioner of the service (I repeat this is the statutory requirement), a complaint to the local authority would seem to be in order.