Alliance policies: Advocacy
The Alliance strongly opposes the decision by the Government not to include a right to advocacy in its plans to reform the 1983 Act. We believes that mental health law should include:
An individual right to independent advocacy for people:
- liable to compulsory treatment;
- at the point of 'examination' for assessment;
- under an assessment order;
- undergoing periods of compulsory treatment whether in the community or in hospital;
- subject to aftercare arrangements;
- at the place of safety, whether it is a psychiatric hospital or police station.
Advocates should be able to:
- attend, where practicable, any consultation, interview or meeting about the person’s treatment or support;
- have access to the person at any reasonable time;
- correspond or communicate in any other way with the person on any matter relating to their role as an advocate;
- receive such information as would assist them to perform their role.
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