The Rethink Hackney advocacy service supports vulnerable people to make informed choices about the support, care and treatment they receive.

Our team of expert and compassionate advocates work with individuals to let them be as involved as possible in decisions that affect them. We will clearly explain their rights, the services available to them, and act on their behalf to allow their voice to be heard.

The situations in which someone needs the support of an advocate are diverse – from people detained under the Mental Health Act, to people deemed to lack the capacity to make decisions for themselves. This means our services are available, but not limited to, groups including:

• Adults with learning disabilities and autism
• People living with dementia
• Individuals experiencing mental illness or a brain injury
• People with physical and sensory impairments
• Young people in transition to adult services
• Mothers and babies

Our advocacy services include, but are not limited to:

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy

When someone is deemed to lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions according to the Mental Capacity Act 2005, we can support them to understand their situation and make choices about the next steps.

Paid Relevant Person's Representation

If a person is subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding authorisation in a hospital or care home, it means decisions are made about their care without their consent. If they have no appropriate family or friend willing to act as their formal representative, our advocacy team step in as a Paid Relevant Person’s Representative.

Independent Care Act Advocacy

The Care Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to ensure someone is at the centre of decision making around their care and support needs. Where the person has no one to support them in these processes, a care act advocate will promote a person’s wellbeing and independence. They will be able to assist with:

• A needs assessment
• A carer’s assessment
• The preparation of a care and support or support plan
• A review of a care and support or support plan
• A safeguarding adult enquiry
• A safeguarding adult review

Independent Mental Health Advocacy

If someone is detained under the Mental Health Act in the Borough of Hackney, or subject to a community treatment order or guardianship order, an advocate can explain their rights. If someone is accessing mental health services but are not on a section of the mental health act, they may still qualify for one of our other advocacy services.

Community Advocacy

A community advocate works with individuals who find it challenging to explain what they want to happen regarding their care and support needs and an advocate can help individuals understand decisions being made, and help an individual navigate their journey, helping an individual express their views, feelings and wishes.

To qualify for community advocacy, you must be aged 18+, and live in the London Borough of Hackney, and be known to Adult Social Care Services, and identify with one of the following:

• Mental health Needs
• Physical or Sensory Impairment
• Acquired Brain Injury
• Learning disability
• Dementia

To be eligible for Community Advocacy in Hackney it must relate to a health and social care issue.  We are unable for instance unable to accept community advocacy requests for issues that are not health, and social care related such as Housing or Welfare Benefits.  An individual seeking support of a community advocate must also have no appropriate person supporting them such as family members or friends to be eligible for community advocacy.

Partnership Working:

Our community advocacy services are also provided in partnership with other organisations depending on the services required. If another advocacy services that we work in partnership with is more appropriate, then the support may be provided by another community advocacy support service in Hackney.

These Advocacy Services Include:

Afridac -  AFRIDAC - African Development and Advocacy Centre.

Age UK   East London - Age UK East London

Derman – Derman – For the Wellbeing of Kurdish and Turkish Communities.

North London Muslim Community Centre - NLMCC Centre

Bikur Cholim - Bikur Cholim

For more information about eligibility criteria for community advocacy please contact us.

NHS Complaints

The role of an NHS Complaints Advocate is to help individuals through the NHS Complaints process and support individuals through that process.  At Rethink Mental Illness we understand that the process can be very difficult and can sometimes be overwhelming, however our Complaints Advocates are here to help you through that journey should you feel you wish to make a complaint about NHS Care, Treatment or Services.

Our NHS Complaints Advocacy Service is free and independent of the NHS and is confidential.

Each County in England and Wales may have different Complaint Advocacy Services providing services in that Area.

Our Complaints Advocacy Services provides Complaints Advocacy for individuals living in Hackney.

Though an complaints advocate can help you with many aspects of an NHS Complaint, we are unable to provide any legal or medical advice.

For more information please see our Get Help pages.