A Patron’s Visit: Witnessing the Impact of Advocacy Focus
A message from our patron, Jake Mills. One of the highlights of my visit was spending a day at the...
Read More
Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs) provide an additional safeguard for individuals who are subject to the Mental Health Act (2007). They are specialist Advocates who are trained to work within the framework of the Act.
Hospital and medical staff have a duty to ensure that individuals understand that help is available to them from the IMHA service, and provide information on how to access the service. Any information, advice and guidance must be given verbally and then followed up in writing. Depending on the circumstances, the responsibility for informing individuals of the above is:
Individuals must be told about the IMHA service as soon as is practical after they become a qualifying patient within a medical organisation. They should then be reminded of the service on regular occasions.
This service is funded by Lancashire County Council and is available across the county.
The role of an IMHA is to help individuals to obtain information and to understand:
The IMHA can support individuals to exercise their rights, which can also include representing or speaking on their behalf.
IMHAs may also support individuals in a range of other ways to ensure that they are involved in decisions that are made about their care and treatment, for example:
Other individuals (informal patients) are eligible if they are:
The IMHA Service has a duty to respond to any requests to visit a patient received from:
Clive* is a 71 year old male with an acquired brain injury as well as mental health needs, which affect his short term memory and cause him to become disorientated. Clive is married and both he and his wife lived together in supported living accommodation until Clive’s deterioration in his mental health meant that he needed to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act. In 2011, Clive was discharged from hospital on a Guardianship Order to a residential setting where he was required to reside for the purpose of care and treatment.
To refer to your local Lancashire advocacy provider, please see below.
A referral can be made by the individual, or on their behalf, by calling or emailing Advocacy Focus.
Referrals will be responded to within 3 working days.
Call us Advocacy Focus on: 0300 323 0965 or email: admin@advocacyfocus.org.uk
Make a referral