IMCA

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) is for:

• When an NHS Body or a Local Authority proposes to provide, withhold or stop serious medical treatment
• When an NHS Body or a Local Authority proposes to arrange or change accommodation
• Care reviews
• Adult protection cases

An advocate may also be required in cases where Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) are applied. An IMCA must be instructed:

• When an Urgent Authorisation has been made and a Standard Authorisation applied for
• When an unauthorised deprivation of liberty is being checked
• When there is a gap in the appointment of a Relative Patients Representative (RPR)
• Where the person does not have a paid ‘professional’ RPR and the relevant person, their representative or the supervisory body feel that an IMCA needs to be instructed to support the RPR role.

All Health Boards in Wales provide an IMCA service for qualifying patients in their area. ASC provides this service in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and Cwm Taf University Health Board.

To find out who provides the IMCA service in the other Health Board areas of Wales, go to our Other Contacts page.