The Wandsworth and Richmond Independent Advocacy Service provides comprehensive advocacy support to people facing challenges, discrimination, or complex decisions about the care they receive.

Our expert team of advocates are skilled at helping individuals, who may find it difficult otherwise, to understand and retain relevant information about healthcare decisions that affect them, and help them communicate their views, wishes or feelings during the process.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)

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 (RPR)

If a person is subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in a hospital or care home. 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 (ICAA)

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 plan
• A review of a care and support plan
• A safeguarding adult enquiry
• A safeguarding adult review

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

If someone is detained under the Mental Health Act in the London Boroughs of Wandsworth or Richmond, subject to a community treatment order or a guardianship order, an advocate can support them. 

• For IMHA we cover South West London and St Georges Mental Health Hospital where an individual is a resident of Wandsworth and Richmond.
• We also support individuals who are from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) please enquire for further information.
• Our IMHA service also supports individuals who have a national address based outside Wandsworth and Richmond but are detained in an hospital in Wandsworth or Richmond.
• We also support individuals who are detained in hospital in South West London St Georges Hospital whose usual address is outside the United Kingdom.

Hospitals we usually cover:

• Springfield Hospital
• Burnt Wood Villas
• Holybourne Hospital
• Priory Hospital

Please note individuals whose residential address is based in Kingston, Merton, Sutton and Croydon and are in one of the hospitals above then IMHA is provided by a different Advocacy Service and not by Rethink Advocacy. We can refer the person to the correct service as part of our Single Point of Access Process. 

Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA)

The role of Independent Health Complaints Advocacy is to help individuals through the NHS Complaints process.  At Rethink Advocacy we understand that the process can be very difficult and overwhelming. 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.

Our Complaints Advocacy is for individuals living in Wandsworth and Richmond.

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.

General Mental Health Advocacy (Wandsworth Area Only).

In the Wandsworth Area, we also provide General Mental Health Advocacy for individuals who are a resident of Wandsworth. 

The service is for individuals who are 16 years of age and over, and the service is aimed at individual users of mental health services in South West London and St George`s Mental Health NHS Trust, Springfield Hospital or individuals who are living in Wandsworth.

Our General Mental Health Advocacy services is for those who do not meet the criteria for Independent Mental Health Advocacy who require support to communicate with mental health service.