All Age Advocacy Services

in St Helens


St Helens is now an All-Age Advocacy Hub – providing advocacy support for children and adults.

Our Hub is a free, independent and confidential single point of contact (SPoC) to adults and eligible children in St Helens.

If you need help with health and/ or social care our hub can help. Please see below for more information and for our full range of services in St Helens.


Related Resources

St Helens Statutory Advocacy Leaflet for Professionals | St Helens Community Advocacy Flyer | St Helens Children’s Rights Services Leaflet for Professionals

Independent Visitor

An Independent Visitor is a volunteer who befriends a young person in care. It is a valuable role that can make a positive difference to a child’s life.

Care Leaver’s Advocacy

A Care Leavers Advocate is a specialist, independent person, who is there to make sure that young people receive the support they need during the transition to independence.

Children and Young People’s Advocacy

Our Independent Advocates champion the rights of young people and ensure that every young person’s voice is heard.

Children’s Rights Helpline

Our Children’s Rights Service provides children with vital information about their rights whilst in care and works to ensure they are protected from harm.

Child Protection Advocacy

If you have been told that a Child Protection Conference is taking place, you may benefit from having an Independent Advocate on your side.

Community Advocacy

Our community advocacy service supports people over the age of 18 who have a disability or mental ill health. Community advocacy provides practical support to overcome health and social care issues.

Independent Care Act Advocacy

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to provide independent advocacy for all adults and carers, as part of their own assessment, care planning and care reviews

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

Practical support for those emotional distress – or with mental health issues – to make informed choices to represent themselves and access health or social care services

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)

We provide a statutory service under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which aims to empower and protect people who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Our specialist IMCAs work with people who are being deprived of their liberty, by supporting them and representing them through the assessment process and the safeguard of their rights.

Paid Relevant Person’s Representative

The Mental Capacity Act says that people being deprived of their liberty in either care homes or hospitals have a right to a representative to support them and exercise their rights.

Litigation Friend

A Litigation Friend is a person's voice during any Court proceedings and ensures that the person who may lack capacity is at the centre of all decision making and that their wishes and views are heard.

Rule 1.2 Representative

Advocacy and advocates have been identified as being best placed to undertake the role of a Rule 1.2 representative, where family members or friends are not willing or able to do so

Pop-Up Advocacy

Seek free and independent advocacy support and advice by coming along to one of our Pop Up events. You don’t need an appointment or to speak to us first; just show up and discuss your health or social care matter with an Advocate free of charge!

Social Care Complaints Advocacy

Assisting and supporting adults in making a formal complaint to Adult Social Services. We will support anyone who feels they cannot initiate or complete a formal complaint.

Spot Purchase Us

We can provide Spot Purchase Advocacy to Local Authorities and Individuals across the UK where no contract exists to provide that particular piece of work.