Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service

Age Concern Cheshire is one of eight voluntary organisations who are providing IMCA Services across Cheshire. We will be working with older people aged 65 and over who meet the criteria for the service.

What is the IMCA Service?

The IMCA Service is a new statutory advocacy service, introduced in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This is a new piece of legislation to empower and protect people who may lack capacity to make decisions for themselves. For example people with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health problems, stroke or head injuries, who may lack capacity to make certain decisions. Additional information about the Act and its principles can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice and some useful information booklets can be downloaded from website for the Office of the Public Guardian.

The purpose of the IMCA Service is to help particularly vulnerable people who lack the capacity to make important decisions about serious medical treatment, changes of accommodation, adult protection cases and some care reviews. The Service is available to those people who have no family or friends whom it would be appropriate to consult about those decisions.

Since April 2009 as part of the statutory IMCA role, our advocacy service will also be handling referrals regarding deprivation of liberty issues under the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. These safeguards have been introduced to ensure that no-one is deprived of their liberty in a hospital or care home setting without good reason, and that people who are deprived of their liberty receive the care they need while retaining specific rights. Further information and standardised forms regarding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards can be accessed via the Department of Health website..