IMCA/IMHA - statutory advocacy

In recent years there has been a creation and growth of 'statutory' advocacy – more formal / legally defined advocacy roles. The Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) role comes directly from the 2005 Mental Capacity Act and is intended to support particularly vulnerable people who are deemed to lack capacity to make decisions around either serious medical treatment or long term moves, when such decisions need to be made.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were a further addition to the IMCA role, and are intended to safeguard people who lack capacity and are deprived of their liberty in order that they receive essential care or treatment.

Under the 2007 Amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983, the IMHA (Independent Mental Health Advocacy) role was created, as a new safeguard primarily for people detained and / or being treated under the terms of the Act.

Providers of IMCA and IMHA in the South