Independent Advocacy Service for Adults with Health and Social Care Needs

Descriptions

Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the provision of professional independent advocacy under the terms of:• The Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance for independent advocates forpeople using social care services.• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity actadvocates.• Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice for independent mental capacity act advocates.Best practice guidance (NICE 2022) states that advocacy providers should aim to supportcontinuity by offering people the same advocate for different types of Advocacy. If this is not possible, they should ensure that systems for handover are in place that are not reliant on a new referral.Local authorities must make appropriate arrangements for independent advocacy services to provide assistant to people making or intending to make complaints as described in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.