Advocacy

Advocacy services are there to support people who want help to express their views or feel that they are not being listened to. All advocacy services are independent of any other agency and are there to represent you.

Hampshire Advocacy Regional Group (HARG) is a consortium of advocacy schemes which promotes the development and support of independent advocacy across the region.

The HARG member schemes provide experienced advocates who work with people who have mental health difficulties, physical or sensory impairments, a learning disability, older people, children and young people in transition and also those people who lack capacity.

To locate an advocate in your area, please contact:

Chris Lee (Chief Officer, HARG)
Portman House
53 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1HN

Tel 02380 715679

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service (IMCA)

The IMCA service is a new service required by The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and will represent those who lack capacity to make certain important decisions when there is no one else who can be consulted.

The contract for the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service for Hampshire has been jointly commissioned by the County Council and Hampshire PCT and has been awarded to HARG. This consortium of advocacy projects will employ an IMCA co-ordinator to oversee IMCAs in projects around the county and the service began on 2^nd April 2007.

• The IMCA Service