About our Advocates
Our team of independent advocates have over 100 years of collective experience supporting individuals to ensure their views are obtained and reflected, their rights respected, and their personal outcomes achieved. All advocates are trained to a very high standard, and are supported by senior staff to develop and maintain key skill sets, and a strict accordance with the National Advocacy Charter principles.
For more information please contact us
Independent advocacy
Independent Care Act Advocacy - ICAA
The Care Act 2014 sets out a legal right for people with a substantial difficulty, and nobody suitable to support them, to an ICAA Advocate when being assessed or supported by a Local Authorities Adult Social Care team. These ICAA's support the person to understand and engage in the process.
These processes include
- Needs Assessments - Care Reviews - Carers Assessments -
- Care and Support Planning - Transition to Adulthood -
- Safeguarding Assessments and Reviews -
Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy - IMCA
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out a legal right for people who lack mental capacity, and have nobody independent to consult on their behalf, to an IMCA Advocate when certain decisions are being made by a Local Authroity or NHS Trust. These IMCA's will advocate on the persons behalf, and in their best interests.
These decisions include
- Change of Accommodation - Accommodation Reviews -
- Serious Medical Treatment - Safeguarding Interventions -
Independent Mental Health Advocacy - IMHA
The Mental Health Act 1983/2007 sets out a legal right for people detained under certain parts of the Act to have an IMHA Advocate. IMHA's support people to:
- Understand and exercise their rights
- Request a review of their detention
- Access information about their treatment
- Support them to raise concerns about their treatment
- Prepare and support them during meetings
Independent Health Complaint Advocacy - IHCA
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sets out a legal right for people who wish to make complaints about their health service treatment when they require support to do so.
These IHCA's will work with the person to understand the process and facilitate the complaint being made.
Relevant Person Representative - DoLS RPPR
The 'DoLS Framework' within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out a legal right for people (who live in care homes or placed in hospitals) subject to the DoLS framework, who have nobody suitable, to support them to understand and engage their legal rights under the framework.
These RPPR's will visit the person regularly to obtain their views, and will represent them to ensure their arrangements remain necessary and proportionate, and support them to apply to Court if they object.
Rule 1.2 Representative - COPDoL 1.2Rep
The 'DoLS System' for people who do not live in care homes and are not placed in hospitals, is by authorisation of the Court of Protection.
The role of the 1.2Rep is the same as a DoLS RPPR (above), with slightly different processes.
Litigation Friends
Court of Protection Rules and Common Law sets out a right for people who lack the mental capacity to litigate for themselves before the Court of Protection, to be represented by a Litigation Friend.
Litigation Friends will spend time with the person obtaining their wishes and supporting them to understand the processes and procedures, and represent their views and act in their best interests with solicitors and the Court.
Parental Advocacy
Article 14 of the Human Rights Act, and provisions of the Care Act 2014, set out that parents with additional needs, who as a result need independent support to understand and engage with Children Social Services processes, should be supported by a Parental Advocate.
These Parental Advocates will spend time with the person preparing for, and engaging in meetings, understanding documents, and ensuring their voice is heard.
Independent 'Nearest Relative' - INR
The Mental Health Act 1983/2007 sets out that people subject to certain provisions of the Act have the right to a positioned Nearest Relative. When there is no suitable person to facilitate this role, an INR can be instructed.
The INR will support the person to reduce the risk of readmission, advocate on their behalf, and make representations when they are unwell which relate to what is in their best interests within the Act's legal provisions.