IMCA Success for HUBB

The Second Annual Report of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service was published on 23rd December 2009. HUBB logged a total of 71 referrals in Barking and Dagenham (28 out of 152 regions) and 60 in Havering (=33 out of 152). Combined this would move us to 6th in the table!

Thoughout England there was a 27% increase in the number of people recieving representation from an IMCA compared to the first year.

The Report states ‘The Department of Health is pleased that there has been an increase in referrals, to reflect the greater awareness of the IMCA service. At the same time, a greater rate of increase had been expected, and it is not thought that the IMCA service is reaching all the people it needs to as yet.’

The full report can be downloaded from the Department of Health website.

HUBB Website Update

The HUBB Website is being updated.

We now have a page that provides access to useful Capacity Assessment downloads for Havering and Barking and Dagenham. On the same page are Safeguard Alert forms for these two London Boroughs.

The website gives an overview of HUBB Advocacy Services, including Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCA) and Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA). The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) page outlines this element of the Mental Capacity Act and provides information on the training HUBB provides.

'Personalisation' is starting to make its presence felt in and around services for Mental Health. Advocacy will form an important part of this process. Although in its embryonic stage we are developing a Personalisation section to the website.

HUBB's Training & Development department is in demand. In the last month we have been running Mental Health First Aid courses, DOLS training, Recovery Star programmes, amongst others.

2010 looks like being a busy year!