Advocacy

Sometimes people find it difficult to express concerns about their treatment or care while they are in hospital or living in the community.  It can be particularly difficult if you are on a ‘section’ or if this is your first time in hospital. You have the right to be heard; your opinions should be listened to by the professional staff. An advocate can help. Our FREE Advocacy Service operates independently of the mental health services.  We can help by listening to you and helping you have your voice heard, and empowering you to speak for yourself. We can support you at ward rounds and Care Programme Approach meetings or when discussing your treatment plan with your doctors and nurses or social workers. We provide clear information about rights, medication and any aspect of treatment while in hospital. We can support you in gaining legal advice and representation if necessary. We can signpost you to other services who can provide support to meet your needs.

For more information about what advocacy is, and how it can help you, see: What is advocacy? – Mind

Making a formal complaint

You may wish to make a formal complaint about your experience, it could be beneficial to you to speak with an advocate about the avenues available to you, such as the mental health trusts complaints procedures and processes and which step would be the most appropriate for you to take in effectively addressing your issue.  

Mind in Croydon are no longer commissioned to provide advocacy support with submitting formal complaints toward South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. For support with formal complaints, please contact Advocacy For All, Independent Health Complaint Advocate.

Feedback

My Advocate gave me the confidence to communicate in my meeting which I would not have been able to otherwise.  I get very nervous at these meetings as this one had three SLAM professionals at it and my advocate helps me to stay on track in my meeting. The Action plan that we went through beforehand was also very helpful for me.

Moksud was really brilliant, kind and supportive.