The Wandsworth and Richmond advocacy services 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

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 London Boroughs of Wandsworth or Richmond and they are normally resident in these Boroughs, 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.

NHS Complaints Advocacy

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 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.