Advocacy

We aim to empower and encourage, as far as practicable, those who use our advocacy services to take a lead in securing the rights and services to which they are entitled. Our advocacy services are designed to support those who are vulnerable or need help to make informed decisions.

We have a great deal of experience in developing and delivering quality advocacy services across a variety of settings, both in the community and in secure hospitals and secure units. Within the community, they operate from specific advocacy centres and advocacy surgeries held at various venues. Advocates can also make home visits and support is available by phone. Advocacy can take place on a one-to-one basis or be group based, e.g. via hospital patient councils and can be provided long-term or for short-term needs. Advocacy is useful in supporting many issues, including hospital admission / discharge, section renewals, management hearings, reviews and case conferences, complaints, requests to see medical records or for second opinions and physical care needs.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) services

We offer a number of Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) services across England. IMCA services started on 1st April 2007 as part of the first stage of the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. These IMCA services appoint an advocate to support a person who lacks capacity to make a specified decision and who has no one appropriate, such as family or friends, to speak for them. IMCAs will be involved when decisions are being made about:

• serious medical treatment
• a change in the person’s accommodation where it is provided by the NHS or a local authority
• adult protection proceedings
• care reviews

The role of the IMCA is to represent and support the person’s wishes and feelings and bring to the attention of the decision-maker relevant factors to assist them in their decision.

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) services

We offer several Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) services which provide confidential, free support for all qualifying patients under the Mental Health Act 1983.

The IMHA service works on a casework basis, with the IMHA’s activities instructed by the patient, except in circumstances when the patient lacks the capacity to do so. Through the IMHA service we are able to provide qualifying patients with balanced information so that they can make informed choices regarding;

• understanding and exercising their rights, particularly those covered by the Act
• their care and treatment
• accessing further relevant information and signposting to appropriate specialist agencies and services as appropriate

Advocacy principles

Our advocacy services are governed by a clear set of principles based on:

• independence from influence of health and social care providers and any conflicts of interest
• empowerment – our ultimate goal is to enable those using our services to develop towards self-advocacy. An advocate must always support them in speaking for themselves and, where this is not possible, faithfully represent their views
• impartiality – advocates are impartial and non-judgmental; separate from an individual’s assessment, treatment and monitoring and must listen to and hear that individual’s report as their truth and therefore valid
• confidentiality – all discussions between anyone using the service and an advocate must be in the strictest confidence
• inclusion – the service must recognise diversity and ensure no one is excluded because of a difference in language, culture,
  disability or capacity
• free access – advocacy is a free service and must not discriminate on financial grounds

All our staff and volunteer advocates receive training to ensure that they are able to provide the highest level of service and we seek to develop positive working relationships between those who use our advocacy services and those who deliver them.

We aim to improve our advocacy services through the involvement of the people that use them and our own Quality Assurance Programme.

In a survey of people that use our services carried out by our Research Team, 96% of people using our advocacy services feel staff and volunteers treat them with dignity and respect.

Advocacy service list

To find out what advocacy services there are in your local area click the map or enter your postcode on the Search for services page.

Alternatively, please call us on 0845 456 0455.