Our approach to Independent Mental Health Advocacy during Covid-19

At ECS our advocacy services help people with mental health issues make their views heard and break down the prejudice they can encounter. This is part of our commitment to involve service users in how mental health services are designed and delivered at both a national and local level. Our commitment to delivering a high-quality advocacy service throughout the Covid 19 lockdown and subsequent easing of restrictions has remained our paramount priority. In this article we detail the steps we have taken to ensure we deliver on our commitment.

The steps we have taken to make sure people are heard

We have listened to feedback from professionals and clients and adapted our approach to incorporate technology to enable us to still communicate with our clients through using Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other assistive software. Advocates are still working and doing all they can to continue to support our clients in the best possible way.

The Advocates who deliver our Independent Mental Health Advocacy service in our Advocacy HUB in Halton have continued to work hard to provide access to advocacy despite the restrictions they have faced over the last 6 months. The Mental Health Act Code of Practice requires that “patients should have access to a telephone on which they can contact the IMHA service and talk to them in private” and that IMHAs must be able to “meet with the patients they are helping in private, unless the patient objects or it is otherwise inappropriate.”

While we may not be able to visit clients personally at this present time, we have been providing virtual or telephone contact and supporting and listening to our clients.

Even with modern technology, many of our clients are extremely vulnerable which makes using the technology, even when it is available, often very challenging. However, we have had many success stories of helping people to use new technology to get their voice heard and be empowered.

Contact us for more information

ECS has a strong reputation in advocacy and we carry out our services to the latest best practice guidelines, so anyone accessing advocacy services from ECS can rest assured that they are receiving the highest quality support available.

If you want more information about the advocacy services we provide, please contact us: advocacy@weareecs.co.uk