Adult Social Care invoices
Invoices have now been issued following a short delay, and associated direct debit collection dates will be adjusted accordingly. There is no need to contact us at this time.
Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA)
In this section
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1Introduction
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2Purpose
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3Scope
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4Legislation
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5Associated policies
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6Definitions
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7Care Act duty to involve people in decisions that affect them
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8What substantial difficulty means
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9Care Act Advocacy for Adult Social Care processes including complaints
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10Care Act Advocacy for safeguarding processes
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11Who is appropriate to act as an informal representative
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12When an Independent Care Act Advocate will be arranged even though there is an appropriate informal representative
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13Changes to representation
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14Out of County Care Act advocacy arrangements
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15The Independent Care Act Advocate’s role
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16Independent Care Act Advocates’ rights to access health and social care records
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17The Council and Independent Care Act Advocates – working together
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18Care home closures/provider failure
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19Decisions that require an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
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20Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA)
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21Commissioning requirements for Independent advocacy
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22Dissatisfaction/Complaints
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23Implementation
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24Monitoring and review
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25Appendix– Definitions
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26Policy details
20.1 People detained under most sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), subject to Guardianship or on a community treatment order (CTO) have a statutory right to support from an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA). In Gloucestershire this will be provided on an opt out basis.
20.2 In Gloucestershire, IMHA are also offered to:
- carers of people described at paragraph 20.1 above
- informal patients in mental health hospitals
- people using the services of a Mental Health Acute Response Service
- people receiving section 117 after care services
20.3 In most circumstances, IMHA are arranged by Mental Health professionals. However where no IMHA is already involved, the council will offer the support of an IMHA to anyone involved in Adult Social Care who is living in the community and is entitled to support from an IMHA.
Policy published : 1996
Policy reviewed : 2023
Last reviewed: