Advocacy

Advocacy means having someone who will speak up on your behalf. An advocate can help express your views and wishes, secure your rights, and represent your interests.

If you are a young person or a parent and find it hard to get your point across, advocacy might be an option.

There are a number of options depending on how old you are and your situation.

You can visit Camden Care Choices for a list of advocacy services. You can also search our listings directory for other organisations that provide support.

Support for parents and young people

Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) can provide advocacy support for parents and young people.

As a young person with SEND, you can access this support and ask for advice, independently of your parents.

If you are under 18 years old and in the care of the Local Authority you can access the advocacy service for disabled young people. This service is run by Wac Arts.

Mental capacity advocacy

If you are aged 16 or older and need support the Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCA) can help if you:

  • can't make big decisions for yourself
  • don't have anyone else to help you

Support for those aged 18 and over

Care and support advocacy

The Care Act says you must be included in decisions about your care and support, like:

  • assessments
  • making plans
  • safety concerns

If you struggle to be part of these processes and don't have someone to support you, a Care Act advocate can help. This support includes if you are a carer.

Mental health advocacy

The Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA) service offers support if you are aged 18 and over, are dealing with mental health problems and are either:

  • under section
  • based in the community

We must make sure you can get help from an IMHA if you:

  • are sectioned under the Mental Health Act
  • are under guardianship according to the act
  • have a community treatment order
  • are conditionally discharged

Learning disability advocacy

A learning disability advocate can help you do different things to help, like

  • give you tools for better communication, such as Makaton
  • make sure you have enough time to understand the information and
  • make sure you have enough time to share your thoughts before making a decision

Visit Camden Care Choices for information on help from specialist advocates.

Complaints about the NHS

If you want to complain about the NHS, the NHS Complaints Advocacy Service can help. It's a free and confidential service.