Advocacy

Advocacy under the Mental Capacity Act

If you are over the age of 16 years and have been assessed as lacking mental capacity to make certain decisions, the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Service may be able to help. It supports people for whom decisions need to be made about future long-term accommodation moves (such as from hospital to residential care), serious medical treatment or arrangements within the Mental Capacity Act's Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

As a member of the public you cannot refer yourself to the IMCA Service. However, our staff, and staff who work for the NHS, must make referrals to the IMCA Service if certain legal criteria are met. One of these is that you do not already have any relatives or other people, such as someone with a Lasting Power of Attorney, who can support you.

If you are involved in an adult safeguarding investigation and there are concerns that your relatives will not be able to support you or act in your best interests, our staff will contact the IMCA Service anyway. In Wakefield, the IMCA Service is provided by Together Working for Wellbeing.