Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service

What is the IMCA Service?

The IMCA service, which was implemented on 2 April 2007, is a new service required by the Act to represent those who lack capacity to make certain important decisions when there is no one else who can be consulted.

Hampshire’s IMCA service

The contract for the IMCA service for Hampshire has been jointly commissioned by the County Council and Hampshire PCT and has been awarded to HARG (Hampshire Advocacy Regional Group).

This consortium of advocacy projects has employed a IMCA co-ordinator to oversee IMCAs in projects around the county and the service began on 2 April 2007.

There is dedicated information on the HARG website about the IMCA service. They have also produced an IMCA leaflet.

Hampshire Advocacy Regional Group

17 New Road, Basingstoke RG21 7PR
01256 478999
imca@hampshireadvocacy.org.uk.
www.hampshireadvocacy.org.uk

Other local IMCA services

Portsmouth SEAP – South of England Advocacy Projects	Jill.miles@seap.org.uk
Southampton Choices Advocacy	www.southamptonimca.org.uk
Isle of Wight Solent MIND	54 Henstead Road, Southampton SO15 2DD 023 8033 4977 jchambers@solentmind.org.uk
Surrey West Surrey – Just Advocacy	Dunedin House, 2 The Mews, Wharf Street,  Godalming, Surrey GU7 1NN 01483 527759 Barbara.nurse@justadvocacy.org.uk
West Sussex Advocacy Partners	McMillan House, 54 Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 8RH 020 8330 6644 margaret.sharpe@advocacypartners.org
West Berkshire SEAP – South of England Advocacy Projects (interim until 16 April)	Jill.miles@seap.org.uk
Dorset Dorset Advocacy	3 Princes Street, Dorchester, DT1 1TP 01305 251033 imca@dorsetadvocacy.co.uk www.dorsetadvocacy.co.uk

Which IMCA service to use

The IMCA Service that a service user is referred to is based on the location of the user at the time they need the service. For example, this would be the location of the hospital where the person is an inpatient, even though this is temporary and could be different from where they live. So e.g. inpatients at St Marys Hospital, Portsmouth will need to be referred to the Portsmouth IMCA service.