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Health and Wellbeing
A Health and Well-being Wales Partner

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service (IMCA) - Mental Health Recovery Services

Last updated: 15/04/2024
Mental Health Recovery Services This resource can use the Welsh language
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What we do

Advocacy Support Cymru (ASC) is a specialist advocacy provider currently delivering independent advocacy services in parts of South Wales. We believe independent advocacy is important because it seeks to give a voice to people who can't make themselves heard. Advocacy helps to ensure that people are as involved as they can be in the things that affect them, and are able to communicate their needs and wishes to others who may have influence or power over their lives.

In Wales, certain vulnerable individuals are eligible for the support of an IMCA, a role defined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The IMCA provides independent safeguards for people who lack capacity to make certain important decisions. If, at the time such decisions need to be made in a person's best interests, they have no-one (other than paid staff) to support, represent them or be consulted, the IMCA will take on this role.

Who do we support

IMCA is available to individuals:
- When a NHS Body or a Local Authority proposes to provide, withhold or stop serious medical treatment.
- When a NHS Body or a Local Authority proposes to arrange or change accommodation.
- For Care reviews
- For Adult protection cases

An advocate may also be required in cases where Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) are applied. An IMCA must be instructed:
- When an Urgent Authorisation has been made and a Standard Authorisation applied for.
- When an unauthorised deprivation of liberty is being checked.
- When there is a gap in the appointment of a Relative Patients Representative (RPR)
- Where the person does not have a paid ‘professional’ RPR and the relevant person, their representative or the supervisory body feel that an IMCA needs to be instructed.

All Health Boards in Wales provide an IMCA service for qualifying patients. ASC provides this service in Aneurin Bevan UHB, Cardiff & Vale UHB and Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB.

Is there a charge to use this service?

No

Can anyone use this service?

IMCA referrals can only be made by the relevant decision maker, or a person authorised to make the referral on their behalf.

 Address

 You can send post here:

Advocacy Support in Cymru Ltd
Unit 1 Charterhouse, Links Business Park
Fortran Road
St. Mellons
Cardiff
CF3 0LT

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 Opening times

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm (except bank holidays) except Friday 9am - 4.30pm

Where do we provide our service?

We will take reasonable steps to ensure the information within the website is as accurate as possible. We cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. The contributors themselves maintain their own information and they welcome feedback about the accuracy of the information they provide. Those accessing it are advised to take reasonable steps to consider its content before acting upon it. This could include seeking professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information within our website.

Please note that the results found when searching in English or Welsh on the English and Welsh sides of the website (www.dewis.wales or www.dewis.cymru) will sometimes differ. Providers can (subject to rules around language standards that apply to some provision) choose to enter their information in English only, in Welsh only, or bilingually. Whilst we try to use the technology within the site to limit the impact of their choice, both terminology and the structure of the languages mean that differences in the results produced is sometimes inevitable.

We assume no responsibility for the content of websites linked on our site. Such links are provided for your information only and should not be interpreted as endorsement by us of those linked websites. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources. We reserve the right to reject or remove links to any website if we find the site content inappropriate.

For more information please refer to the full terms and conditions.

Find more well-being information at www.dewis.wales

We will take reasonable steps to ensure the information within the website is as accurate as possible. We cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. The contributors themselves maintain their own information and they welcome feedback about the accuracy of the information they provide. Those accessing it are advised to take reasonable steps to consider its content before acting upon it. This could include seeking professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information within our website.

Please note that the results found when searching in English or Welsh on the English and Welsh sides of the website (www.dewis.wales or www.dewis.cymru) will sometimes differ. Providers can (subject to rules around language standards that apply to some provision) choose to enter their information in English only, in Welsh only, or bilingually. Whilst we try to use the technology within the site to limit the impact of their choice, both terminology and the structure of the languages mean that differences in the results produced is sometimes inevitable.

We assume no responsibility for the content of websites linked on our site. Such links are provided for your information only and should not be interpreted as endorsement by us of those linked websites. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources. We reserve the right to reject or remove links to any website if we find the site content inappropriate.

For more information please refer to the full terms and conditions.