Safeguarding adults

Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)

The Independent Mental Health Advocate service is for people who have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. You have a legal right to receive information and support if you are: • currently detained under certain sections of the

Mental Health Act;

• subject to Guardianship or a Community

Treatment Order; or

• considering certain treatments which have been suggested to you.

Advocates can be:

• volunteer or paid advocates; or • people with specialist knowledge, like doctors, lawyers or solicitors.

East Sussex

East Sussex County Council has a contract with POhWER to provide independent and confidential advocacy services. You can talk to POhWER advocates in the strictest confidence either by asking your care manager or ward staff for a referral or by contacting POhWER directly. Tel: 0300 456 2370 (charged at local rate). Email: pohwer@pohwer.net Skype: pohwer.advocacy Web: pohwer.net/east-sussex

Brighton & Hove

The Sussex Advocacy Partnership provides a central point of access for all statutory advocacy. Professionals can refer to the central point of access, managed by POhWER, for independent Care Act Advocates, by emailing pohwer@pohwer.net or visiting

pohwer.net/brighton-and-hove

Alternatively, you can make a self-referral to community advocacy services by contacting the following organisations.

Mind in Brighton & Hove

Advocacy for adults with mental health conditions, including those affecting older people. Tel: 01273 666950 Email: info@mindcharity.co.uk Web: mindcharity.co.uk

Mind Out

Advocacy for LGBTQ people with mental health conditions. Tel: 01273 234839 Email: info@mindout.org.uk Web: mindout.org.uk/get-support/advocacy

Speak Out

Advocacy for adults with learning disabilities. Tel: 01273 421921 Email: info@bhspeakout.org.uk Web: bhspeakout.org.uk

Sussex Interpreting Services

Delivers bilingual advocacy services. Tel: 01273 234016 Web:

sussexinterpreting.org.uk/community-advocacy

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be being abused, neglected or exploited, you should raise your concerns.

It is important that everyone knows what to look for, and who they can go to for advice and support. Changes in someone’s physical or emotional state, or injuries that cannot be explained, may be a sign of abuse.

The Sussex Safeguarding Adults Boards has arrangements in place to prevent and protect people who may be at risk of, or are experiencing, abuse or neglect. This is set out in the ‘Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures’ at

sussexsafeguardingadults.procedures.org.uk

An adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect if they have needs for care and support because of their age, physical or learning disability, mental health needs or other illness and are, or may be, unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation because of their care and support needs.

Other adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect include people who are: