Independant Advocacy Service

The current service provides a single point of access to advocacy services in the Wakefield district and is provided by Together for Mental Wellbeing. The current service includes Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs), Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) and independent advocacy under the Care Act 2014. The current service is:

• independent - free from influence from the providers of health or social care, and advocates have no conflicts of interest. • empowering - advocates always support service users, including supporting service users to speak for themselves, or (if service users are not able to do this) represent service users views as if they were their own. This enables service users to grow towards advocating for themselves. • inclusive - recognises diversity of eligible service users and ensures no-one is prevented from accessing the service because of a difference in language, culture, disability, or capacity. • confidential - all discussions between service users and advocates are treated as confidential. However, disclosure may be necessary in certain circumstances; and • legally compliant - fully cognisant of the statutory requirements and guidance and/or codes of practice.

The provision of Independent Advocacy Service will commence from 1st April 2024 for a period of four years with the option to extend for up to a further three years.