Secure Settings Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA) for Kent & Medway funded patients.
The amended Mental Health Act gives a statutory right to those people being detained (sectioned) having access to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) on any issue relating to their care and treatment under the Act.
An IMHA is a specialist advocate who can provide information, access records, attend meetings, speak up for and ensure that the person secures his/her rights under the Act. A person must be able to speak in confidence with their IMHA in private, whether face to face or on the telephone.
An IMHA does not in any way affect the person's right to legal advice and representation of a Solicitor and is not qualified to carry out any work of a Solicitor.
In addition to providing this service to people who live in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley area, Invicta Advocacy Network also provides a specialist IMHA service to adults detained specifically in Secure Settings. The service is available to all those who are so detained and are Kent & Medway funded.
This service is provided primarily in the Trevor Gibbens Unit (Forensic Medium Secure Unit), in the Tarentfort Centre; Brookfield Centre and Birling Centre. The service is also provided, upon request, to Kent & Medway NHS funded adults detained in Secure Settings up to 150 miles from Kent & Medway.
Leaflets (including easy read versions) of the service are available. Awareness sessions to staff and to patients are given upon request.
Requests for an IMHA in Secure Settings can be made by contacting the office on
01322 285234
(9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday)
This page last updated Mon, 29 August 2011