as a client, i believe in giving gifts to show appreciation of a job well done, if a job is not well done then no gift is given, if one is then a small gift i feel is ok.
as an advocate, i feel gifts are not necessary for i am only doing my job, the policy we have is that gifts of a value under £5 are ok, anything over this is not, but in every instance if asked we are instructed to advise clients that if they want to do anything then donate to a charity as they need the money more than we need a gift.
I tend to stick to gifts like unplanted crocuses with small vases (the things you grow so you can see the roots in the water), or candles or note books as i know they will be used. i tend not to go for jewelry or toiletries as everyone has their own preference and I know from experience that people working in the public sector get innundated with more chocolates than they can ever eat! (one year as head of a preschool i was given 29 gifts from the children at easter, and 26 of them were chocolates and i don't even eat chocolate!(they all went to a local hospital for cancer and child patients there)