Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 introduced the role of the independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA).
IMCAs are a legal safeguard for people who lack the capacity to make specific important decisions: including making decisions about where they live and about serious medical treatment options. IMCAs are mainly instructed to represent people where there is no one independent of services, such as a family member or friend, who is able to be consulted about the best interests decision.
IMCA Report Writing Evaluation Tool
A tool for IMCAs, IMCA Managers and Commissioners to support best practice in IMCA report writing.
IMCA Guides
The following guidance was developed at Action for Advocacy by Jakki & Sue whilst they managed the IMCA Support Project. The project was funded by the Department of Health to develop and publish national best practice, this includes ‘serious medical treatment’ guidance to support IMCAs and anyone else who is involved in the welfare, care and/or treatment of someone being considered for and/or going through specific medical treatment.
- IMCA Instruction Best Practice Guidance
- IMCA Report Writing Best Practice Guidance
- Serious Medical Treatment Best Practice Guidance
- Data Protection Guidance Note
The following guidance offers an overview of the relevant treatment along with questions to ask the person in order for them to be able to participate as fully as possible in the decision. Questions to ask those that know the person in order to inform the decision maker’s final decision. The role of an advocate in being able to represent the person and questions to ask of the decision maker to ensure the best interests process is as robust as possible.
- Chemotherapy Guidance
- ECT Factsheet
- Dental Treatment Guidance
- Do Not Attempt Resuscitation Guidance
- End of Life Care Guidance
- PEG Guidance
- Good Practice Guidance for the commissioning and monitoring of Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Services
- Good Practice Guidance on Accessing the Court of Protection
- Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy involvement in accommodation decisions and care reviews
- IMCA and paid relevant person’s representative roles in the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Department of Health: IMCA Reports
Court of Protection Handbook website
This site accompanies the Court of Protection Handbook, the first book to address in detail the practice and processes of the Court of Protection – across the whole range of its work – in terms that are aimed not solely at lawyers but also to the increasing numbers of people who either by choice or otherwise are involved in proceedings before the Court of Protection without legal help.
Court of Protection Handbook website
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