Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

A suite of 12 resources which includes short films, reports, at a glance summaries and tools on Independent Mental Health Advocacy. The resources aim to raise awareness and understanding of the IMHA role amongst service users and mental health staff; improve access IMHA, help providing an understand what a good service looks like, and how outcomes can be measured. The resources have been produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence in partnership with The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston.

Autism: Improving access to social care for adults

This guide helps people in the health and social care sector who work with adults with autism to increase their knowledge and understanding of autism and improve access to social care services.

Making events and meetings accessible

Practical handbook to make any event or meeting, whatever the size, whoever the participants, inclusive, so that everyone can take part in the way that best suits them.

Good practice in social care for asylum seekers and refugees

The purpose of this guide is to support commissioners and providers of social care services to work effectively with refugees and asylum seekers.

Improving access to Independent Mental Health Advocacy for providers of mental health services

Part of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

This summary of how to implement an open access process for Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) services should be considered in conjunction with the Improving Open Access to IMHA flowchart.

Improving equality of access to Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA): a briefing for providers

Part of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

This summary aims to assist Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) providers to open up their service to everyone who has the right to use it.

Improving equality of access to Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA): a report for providers

Part of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

This report aims to help Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) services reach everyone who is entitled to their support.

Understanding Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) for mental health staff

Part of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

This accessible five minute film focusses on mental health staff’s legal responsibilities to refer people for Independent mental health advocacy, how they can support advocates and the benefits for staff.

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) improving equality of access

Part of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

This accessible seven minute film summarises the issues around ensuring that everyone has access to IMHA services. Primarily aimed at independent mental health advocacy providers the film explains how they can ensure that their service provides equality of access to all service users.

Understanding Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) for people who use services

Part of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

This accessible five minute film provides a simple but authoritative overview of qualifying patients’ right to independent mental health advocacy. It also covers how advocates can help and what the benefits are for people who use services.