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Statutory Advocacy

Statutory Advocacy means that there is a legal obligation to provide advocacy.

These two laws are the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act.

VoiceAbility offers both types of statutory advocacy:

• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy or IMCA
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy or IMHA

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy or IMCA

The IMCA Service is there to support and represent people who lack mental capacity.
An IMCA would get involved when decisions need to be made about serious medical treatment, accommodation, deprivation of liberty and in some circumstances safeguarding proceedings and care reviews.

Independent Mental Health Advocacy or IMHA

Qualifying patients detained under the Mental Health Act are entitled to an independent advocate.

An independent mental health advocate will support them at ward rounds, care reviews or appeals and help them understand their rights and their treatment