IMCA Services
Advocacy Services @ The Care Forum provides Independent Mental Capacity Advocates in South Gloucestershire to represent and support people who meet the eligibility criteria under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Eligibility Criteria
There are two sorts of referral. Those that must referred to the IMCA service (mandatory), and those that may be referred (discretionary). For further information download our IMCA leafet
Mandatory referrals to the IMCA service are those where a person a) lacks capacity to make a specific decision about serious medical treatment or a longterm accommodation move (of more than 28 days in a hospital or 8 weeks in a care home) and b) does not have appropriate family or friends to be consulted.
There are two types of discretionary referrals: 1) Care reviews where accommodation has been arranged for a person who has no appropriate family or friends to consult 2) Safeguarding adults cases where a protective measure is proposed or has been taken whether or not there is appropriate family or friends to consult.
The role of the IMCA
Where IMCAs are appropriately involved they may: make representations about a person's wishes, feelings, beliefs and values in relation to the decision being made; enable the person to participate as fully as they can in the decision making process; obtain and evaluate information relevant to the decision; ascertain any alternative courses of action that may be available; obtain a further medical opinion if necessary; bring all factors relevant to the decision to the attention of the decision maker(s); challenge decisions if appropriate; produce a report commenting on the decision to be made and how the individual's best interests can be promoted.
The role of the IMCA is to INFORM the decision, it is not to make the decision; this responsibility remains with the care co-ordinator (for an accommodation move) or the doctor (for a serious medical treatment decision).
The IMCA role serves to offer a layer of independence to the decision-making process. This offers protection to the vulnerable people who are our service users and also to the decision-makers who are making highly complex and important decisions on behalf of vulnerable adults.
Referral Process
Download the Mental Capacity Act Practice Summary
Download our Mental Capacity Asssesment form complete and fax it to 0117 965 0200
Download our IMCA referral form complete and fax it to 0117 965 0200
E-mail us at imca@thecareforum.org.uk
Telephone 0808 808 5252 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm to speak to a member of the team.
Write to us at IMCA @ The Care Forum, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ.
