INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES (IMHA)

From April 2012 all patients in any hospital or registered establishment in Wales could be entitled to have the support of an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA).

INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY

IMHA Referral Form
Word Version - English

Ffurflen Gyfeirio IMHA
Fersiwn Word - Cymraeg

Please Fax, Post or Email completed application forms.

MAP provides the IMHA service throughout Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

IMHAs are specialist advocates who are trained to work within the framework of the Mental Health Act.

FREE, INDEPENDENT and CONFIDENTIAL

Patients are eligible for the support of IMHA if:
The IMHA service is available to any in-patient, including children; in any hospital or registered establishment within Hywel Dda NHS Trust who is being treated or assessed for a mental health disorder whilst in that setting. This also applies if you have been admitted to hospital under
short-term and holding powers of the Mental Health Act (section 4, 5(2), 5(4)), or as an informal patient and includes people under a Community Treatment Order (CTO) living outside of a hospital setting.

The IMHA service is available to any person subject to Guardianship (section 7 of the Mental Health Act) throughout the local authority areas of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

IMHAs will work in a way that adheres to the patient's wishes, empowers the patient and remains issue based.

IMHAs will help patients obtain information about and understand:
Their rights under the Act;
The rights which other people have in relation to them under the Act;
Any medical treatment that they are receiving or may receive;
The parts of the Act which apply to them.

IMHAs will be able to:
Visit and talk to a patient in private;
Visit and talk to any person connected with the patient's medical treatment;
Require the production of and inspect any records relating to detention or treatment (if the patient has capacity);
Require the production of and inspection of any social services records which relate to the patient

IMHAs can provide Non Instructed Advocacy to people who do not have the capacity to instruct in this case the IMHA will consider and represent the rights and past wishes of the patient but will not make Best Interests recommendations.

IMHAs will work in a broadly circular process:
Listen
Discuss options
Agree action
Research and gather information
Review options in light of information received
Confirm action
Provide support through the action requested
Review outcome
Try another option if planned outcome not achieved

The role of an IMHA is to help people communicate with an effective voice to enable them to influence decisions that affect their lives.

IMHA OFFICE
Mental Health Advocacy Providers
Ty Carwyn
3 St. Peter's Street
Carmarthen
Carmarthenshire
SA31 1LN

HEAD OFFICE
Mental Health Advocacy Providers
The Liberal Chambers
4 St Mary's Street
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 2DR

Tel/Fax: 01267 223197
E-Mail: imha@mapadvocacy.org.uk

This service does not replace other forms of advocacy, legal advice or support you may have and can work alongside them. It is a specialised service which provides additional safeguards for people detained formally or as informal patients relating to the mental health act.