Advocacy in Staffordshire

Care Act

The Care Act places a new duty on local authorities to provide access to independent advocacy to those who would have substantial difficulty in being involved in care and support ‘processes’ and have no appropriate or available individual(s) who can support their involvement.

Mental Health Act

From the 1st April 2009 new legislation came into effect under amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983 (the Act) introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007. This placed a duty on the responsible individual and/or body to provide certain qualifying patients with information regarding the availability of their local IMHA Service. The IMHA Service in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is provided by Asist. Please note that the duty is to provide information and patients may choose not to be referred to the IMHA Service.

Mental Capacity Act

Asist is the provider of IMCA Services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. 

Eligibility

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires that Local Authorities and NHS bodies must instruct an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) when:

• An eligible decision is to be made (Serious Medical Treatment; Change of Accommodation)

• The person has been assessed as lacking capacity to make that decision

• There are no friends or family willing, able or appropriate to be consulted as part of the best interests decision making process.

IMCA instructions can also be made for Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults when protective measures are proposed (irrespective of consultable friends/ family) and for Care Reviews relating to accommodation.

NHS Complaints

Do you live in Staffordshire and wish to make a complaint about an NHS service that you, or someone you know, have received, but not sure where to start?

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This is a free, confidential, independent service that can help you to raise your concerns and make a complaint about a National Health Service, for example: a Doctor, Dentist, Hospital. By raising your concerns it can help to put things right and the NHS can learn from your experience. This could consist of an explanation, an apology or information about how the NHS has used your experience to improve their services or care.