The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and the University of Central Lancashire, with involvement from the Health Services Management Centre (HSMC), have launched a suite of resources to ensure that people detained under the Mental Health Act have access to Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) services. These resources build on original research, led by Dr Karen Newbigging from HSMC. Undertaken by a team of thirteen, involving ten people with experience of using mental health services, including being detained under the Mental Health Act, the research is notable for its partnership approach to a contested area of policy. The report's recommendations to improve access to an IMHA have been promoted by the House of Common’s Health Select Committee's scrutiny of the Mental Health Act, the Care Quality Commission, referenced by the Department of Health and presented at a number of international conferences.
The resources, launched at the House of Lords at an event hosted by Lord Michael Bichard on 11 March 2015, are aimed at improving access to high quality advocacy and ensuring that people who are detained under the Act are able to exercise their right to be heard. The resources include short films, reports, at a glance summaries and tools and are available at: http://www.scie.org.uk/independent-mental-health-advocacy/index.asp
Further information is available from k.v.newbigging@bham.ac.uk
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