Independent advocacy

Independent advocacy can help you have a stronger voice and more control over decisions about your life, health and care.

An advocate is an independent professional who is on your side. They can:

  • help you understand your rights and choices
  • support you to have your say
  • help you take part in decisions about your health, care and wellbeing
  • speak on your behalf, if you would like them to.

Advocates are independent of the NHS, councils and care providers, and you do not have to pay for their support.

In some circumstances, you have a legal right to an advocate. This is known as statutory advocacy. 

Advocacy services

Below you can find information about the statutory advocacy services available in all areas. Other types of advocacy may also be available locally, depending on where you live.

Advocacy providers vary across south west London, so there is no single website listing all available services.

For Care Act Advocacy, Children and Young People’s Advocacy or IMCA, speak to the professionals involved in your care or contact social services at your local council.

Find your local council

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

An Indepedent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) can help you understand your rights under the Mental Health Act. They can explain information, help you express your views and support you at meetings. They are independent of the services providing your care, and their support is free and confidential.

You may have a right to an IMHA if you are:

  • detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, sometimes known as being 'sectioned'
  • on a Community Treatment Order (CTO)
  • subject to guardianship
  • an informal patient being considered for certain treatments under the Mental Health Act.


How an IMHA can help

An IMHA can help you understand:

  • your rights under the Mental Health Act, including your rights around discharge
  • your Community Treatment Order and any conditions attached to it
  • the parts of the Mental Health Act that apply to you
  • your treatment and why you are receiving it.

With your agreement, an IMHA can also:

  • meet with you privately
  • look at your health records
  • talk to the people involved in your care
  • speak or write on your behalf
  • come to meetings with you
  • support you if you are eligible to apply to the Mental Health Tribunal.


Contact an IMHA

Refer yourself using the contact details below, or ask a member of staff to help you.

Rethink Advocacy London Hub (for patients at Springfield Hospital)
Telephone: 0300 7900 559
Email: advocacyreferralhub@rethink.org
Rethink Advocacy London Hub

Cambridge House (for patients at Tolworth Hospital)
Telephone: 020 7358 7007
Email: imailbox@ch1889.org
Visit the Cambridge House website

NHS Complaints Advocacy

NHS Complaints Advocacy provides independent support if you want to make a complaint about treatment or care that you, a friend or family member have received from an NHS service.

Support is available throughout the complaints process.

Find help to make an NHS complaint

You can also find your local Healthwatch for support in your area.

Care Act Advocacy

Care Act advocates support people to understand their rights under the Care Act and to be fully involved in a local authority assessment, care review, care and support planning or safeguarding process.

Local authorities have a duty to involve you in decisions about your care and support. If you have difficulty being involved in these decisions, your local authority must provide an advocate. This is unless there is someone else suitable to support you.

Speak to the professionals involved in your care or contact social services at your local council.

Find your local council

Advocacy for children and young people

Advocacy can help children and young people have their voices heard in decisions that affect them, including those who are:

  • in care
  • leaving care
  • involved in child protection proceedings.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)

An Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) supports people who have been assessed as lacking capacity to make certain important decisions and do not have an appropriate family member or friend who can be consulted about the decision.

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