Different Types of Advocacy
There are several different forms of Advocacy set out by the Social Services and Well Being (Wales) Act 2014 Code of Practice.
| Type of Advocacy | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Self-Advocacy | When individuals represent and speak up for themselves. |
| Informal advocacy | When family, friends or neighbours supporting an individual in having their views wishes and feelings heard which may include speaking on their behalf. |
| Collective Advocacy | Involves groups of individuals with common experiences, being empowered to have a voice and influence change and promote social justice. |
| Peer Advocacy | One individual acting as an advocate for another who shares a common experience or background. |
| Formal Advocacy | May refer to the advocacy role of staff in health, social care and other settings where professionals are required as part of their role to consider the wishes and feelings of the individual and to help ensure that they are addressed properly. |
| Independent Professional Advocacy | Involves a professional, trained advocate working in a one-to-one partnership with an individual to ensure that their views are accurately conveyed, and their rights upheld. This might be for a single issue or multiple issues. |
Your Rights in relation to Advocacy
Certain people are legally entitled to an advocate due to their circumstances.
Independent Professional Advocate (IPA)
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 introduced a new duty for a local authority to provide any person (18+) who requires assistance to overcome any barriers that they may face in participating fully 'in the assessment, care and support planning review and safeguarding process' with an Independent Professional Advocate.
An Independent Professional Advocate supports people who have difficulty expressing their views to exercise their rights, express their views and explore and make informed choices by assisting the person to:
- Understand statutory processes
- Communicate their views
- Understand how to voice what matters to them and how their needs can be met
- Make decisions about their care and support arrangements
- Understand their rights
- To challenge decisions
Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
An Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) will provide support where a person has been assessed or is being assessed under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- An IMCA must be instructed by local authorities to represent an individual who is 'otherwise without support'
- An IMCA is instructed 'to help particularly vulnerable people who lack the capacity to make important decisions about serious medical treatment and changes of accommodation'
- An IMCA can be instructed in safeguarding cases and should be instructed in care reviews
Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
An Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) provides support where a person has been assessed or is being assessed under the Mental Health Act 1983.
- An IMHA is a specialist advocate who has legal rights which may not be available to other advocates
- An IMHA will assist a person where they are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, except where they have been taken to a place of safety
- Whilst an IMHA is there to help individuals understand questions and information they are not 'translators, interpreters or providers of general communication'
- The IMHA can provide advocacy services for accessing information, exercising their rights when making a complaint(s) and for accessing records
- An IMCA can be instructed in safeguarding cases and should be instructed in care reviews
Complaints Advocacy - Llais
Llais Advocacy aims to understand your views and experiences of health and social care and ensure decision-makers use your feedback to shape your services. They seek to understand what works well and how services may need to improve and reach out to those whose voices are not often heard.
When things go wrong, they support you in making complaints.
Get in touch with Llais by email, phone or via contact form.
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