Our services in Essex
Use our quick and easy online referral form. It takes less than 5 minutes to complete. If you are experiencing any issues with making a referral via our web journey, please download the appropriate referral form, and email it into helpline@voiceability.org.
We provide the following services:
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Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
What’s this?
Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs) support people with issues relating to their care and treatment when they have been detained (sectioned) under the Mental Health Act. They also help people understand their rights under the Mental Health Act.
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Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
What’s this?
Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) support people who lack capacity to make decisions about their long term accommodation or serious medical treatment and who do not have any friends or family appropriate to consult.
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Relevant Person's Representative (RPR)
What’s this?
When a DoLS authorisation is in place and there is no suitable RPR, an advocate can take on the role of RPR.
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NHS complaints advocacy
What’s this?
NHS complaints advocates support people to complain about the treatment or care that they or a friend or family member have received from an NHS service. This support is available at every stage of the complaints process.
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Care Act advocacy
What’s this?
Independent Care Act advocates support people to understand their rights under the Care Act and to be fully involved in decisions about any care and support they need. This includes local authority assessments, care reviews, care and support planning and safeguarding processes.
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Statutory children's advocacy
What’s this?
Specialist advocacy for Looked After Children (including those living in secure children’s homes), Care Leavers, and children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
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General advocacy in Essex
What’s this?
In Essex we offer General Advocacy, Peer and Citizen Advocacy. We can provide non-statutory support such as citizen advocacy to ensure that those individuals not eligible for statutory advocacy services can be supported to have their voices heard through the use of volunteers. Citizen advocates will be volunteers who aim to involve people in their local community by enabling them to have a voice and to make decisions about the things that affect their lives. Peer advocates will meet with individual on a one-to-one basis and provide support for those with a similar disability, experience or who have faced similar barriers. Sharing their learning and supporting individuals to develop their self-advocacy skills We will work alongside the Council to identify local offers of non-statutory advocacy support and where there may be gaps in provision.
Make a referral
Get support for yourself or someone you know and check eligibility.
Contact us by phone
Contact us by email
Click below to download our referral forms and further information
Where to send your completed referral form
By email: helpline@voiceability.org
For data security reasons, do not email referral forms unless you are using a secure method, even if you password protect documents. Please remember that it’s your responsibility to send people’s information to us securely.
By post
We will be able to process a referral and offer support much more quickly if you email us, but if you are unable to email, you can post the form to: VoiceAbility, c/o Sayer Vincent, 110 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TG.
Remember you can also call us for free on 0300 303 1660 to make a referral.