Care Act Advocacy
Independent advocacy must be made available to people who have ‘substantial difficulty’ in being fully involved in the care and support process:
- Care assessment
- Care and support planning and care reviews
- Safeguarding enquiries
- Safeguarding adult reviews
For more information about Care Act Advocacy click here and here
Referral form for a Care Act Advocate can be found here
Who should get an IMCA?
An independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA) must be instructed for people in the following circumstances
- The person is aged 16 or over
- A decision needs to be made about either a long-term change in accommodation or serious medical treatment
- The person lacks capacity to make that decision, and
- There is no one independent of services, such as a family member or friend, who is “appropriate to consult”
An IMCA may also be provided to people for other decisions concerning
- Care Reviews or
- Adult Protection
In adult protection cases an IMCA may be instructed even where family members or others are available to be consulted.
Find more details about the IMCA service here https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/IMCA-Trifold-Leaflet-Nov-2017.pdf
And https://www.scie.org.uk/mca/imca/do
Referral form for an IMCA here https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMCA-referral-form-Aug-2022.pdf
IMHA Qualifying patients
IMHAs work with a specific group of qualifying patients. These people are all entitled to speak with an IMHA by law. The legislation requires mental health service staff to inform them of their right to an IMHA.
People who are eligible to use IMHA services in England are:
- people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 amended in 2007 (even if on leave of absence from the hospital), but excluding people who are detained under certain short term sections (4, 5, 135, and 136)
- conditionally discharged restricted patients
- people subject to guardianship
- people subject to supervised community treatment orders (CTOs).
Other patients, who are informal, are eligible for IMHA services if they are being considered for section 57 or section 58A treatment (i.e. treatments requiring consent and a second opinion). This includes people under the age of 18 who are being considered for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Find more details about the IMHA service here https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/IMHA-Trifold-Leaflet-.pdf
And https://www.learndirect.com/blog/why-is-mental-health-advocacy-important
IMHA referral form here https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Open-Access-to-IMHA-form-Electronic-form-1.docx
Parents with a Learning Disability Advocacy Service
Parents with learning disabilities (LD) can be good enough parents with the correct support. The Child Protection process is complex and can be distressing for participants. We can provide advocacy to parents with LD going through child protection or Family Court Proceedings on a Spot Purchase basis, we can provide support to understand processes, rights, services available and to challenge when best practice is not adhered to.
For many years we have collaboratively with Bristol University as part of the Working Together With Parents Network https://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/wtpn/ and more recently National Children Bureau https://www.ncb.org.uk/WTWPN to promote and the rights of Parents with LD and good practice in supporting them. There are five key features of good practice in working with parents with learning disabilities:
1. Accessible information and communication
2. Clear and co-ordinated referral and assessment procedures and processes, eligibility criteria and care pathways
3. Support designed to meet the needs of parents and children based on assessments of their needs and strengths
4. Long-term support where necessary
5. Access to independent advocacy.
More detail here FINAL 2021 WTPN UPDATE OF THE GPG.pdf (bristol.ac.uk)
Parent with LD referral form https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Parents-with-Learning-Disability-Advocacy-Referral-Form-Mar-2022.docx
Vulnerable Parents Advocacy Service
We can provide advocacy to any vulnerable parents who are going through Child Protection or Family Court Proceedings. We can work with those parents who may have mental ill health, autism, ADHD or may be young care leavers, anyone who requires reasonable adjustments to enable them to fully engage in meetings and processes affecting their family life.
This service requires funding direct from the service making the referral usually health, Children or Adult social care.
We can provide this service in Swindon and the surrounding areas / local authorities.
For details of costings please contact the service manager georginaduck@swindonadvocacy.org.uk
Vulnerable Parent referral form here https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Vulnerable-Parent-Advocacy-Spot-Purchase-Referral-Form-Ver-March-2022.docx
Community Projects
Project BOOST
Our accessible Adult Community project promoting independence skills and inclusion for adults (Swindon residents 18 and over) who have a Learning Disability (LD).
People with LD experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes than the general population: due to isolation, inaccessible services, few resources and coping skills and the impact of discrimination.
We provide a safe and welcoming space where people with a learning disability (LD) can come to meet others and build a community, try new activities and learn skills to support a healthy and independent life.
Referral form here https://www.swindonadvocacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Referral-form-Boost.docx
Community Advocacy for Adults with a Learning Disability
To provide an independent accessible free advocacy service for people with a learning disability. Who meet the following criteria:
Aged 18+
Living in the Swindon area
Experiencing crisis or significant difficulties
Have a learning disability
Email info@swindonadvocacy.org.uk for a referral form or more information
Spot Purchase Advocacy
If you have a client who could benefit from advocacy to enable them to engage in and understand a process but does meet criteria under one of the Statutory services we can provide advocacy on a Spot Purchase basis. If you have a specific need for some short term advocacy we can help. We have multi skilled advocates qualified to work with children, young people and adults with support needs. We can provide advocacy in and around Swindon for any advocacy need not covered by the services listed above.
Please contact georginaduck@swindonadvocacy.org.uk to discuss any potential work.
