INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ACT ADVOCACY SERVICE (IMHA)

Descriptions

INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ACT ADVOCACY SERVICE (IMHA)The Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 has placed a requirement on all Local Health Boards, along with respective Local Authority partners in Wales, to expand the statutory scheme of independent mental health advocacy, for both patients subject to compulsion under the Mental Health Act 1983, and for those in hospital on an informal basis.Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Local Health Board is leading the Procurement to establish a Framework Agreement, based on geographical Lots, on behalf of all Health Boards across Wales. Working closely with Health Boards and their respective Local Authorities, ABMU is seeking to place a number of established advocacy organizations, on a geographical basis, as preferred providers of high quality IMHAA services across the LHB/Local Authority areas, to be effective from 1st April 2012, over an initial period of three years, with an option to extend for a further 1 year period.In addition, and arising from within the ABMU HB and respective Local Authorities Mental Health Partnership agreement, an opportunity is being taken to re-design the current non statutory mental health advocacy (hospital and part community) and realign this activity into a community mental health advocacy model across the ABM area only. Alongside the expanded statutory IMHA this will aim towards a whole system of mental health advocacy within the ABM area, and will seek to address a key recommendation of the recent Wales Audit Office review of Adult Mental Health Services in the ABM area (March 2011). Some Health Boards will only be able participate in the Framework Agreement at such a time as when their existing contractual arrangements with current IHMAA providers expire. Expressions of interest are to be directed, via email, to abm.procurement@wales.nhs.uk, by no later than 12.00 noon on Friday, 23rd September, 2011.