Experiences of working with IMHAs: Service Users and Social Workers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of working with Independent Mental Health Advocates in community settings: service user and social worker perspectives
IRAS ID
257819
Contact name
Nicola Moran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Individuals detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (Amended 2007) (MHA) are entitled to Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs). This includes those detained under Section 17a Community Treatment Orders (CTOs). CTOs give conditional discharge to the community for people who have been detained in hospital for treatment.
CTOs stipulate conditions by which service users can be treated in the community. Should service users not comply with these conditions, and relapse with regards to their mental health, they can be recalled to hospital without a Mental Health Act Assessment.
Amendments (2007) to the MHA, specified that those detained under the Act should have access to dedicated advocacy services. The remit of this service was to assist people to navigate detention, ensure their rights, and amplify the voice of vulnerable service users.
Recent research found that less than half of all qualifying service users had access to IMHAs. This was particularly low for people in community settings, namely those who remain detained in community settings under CTOs.
Previous research also did not explore in depth the contributions that social workers make to the low uptake of referrals to IMHA services, despite Approved Mental Health Professionals (the large majority of which are social workers) being required to approve or renew a CTO.
This study therefore seeks to answer the main research question of why there is such a low uptake of IMHA services in community settings by exploring the perspectives of service users and social workers.
In-depth interviews will be carried out with service users and social workers to explore the experiences (or lack of experience) of working with IMHAs to answer the question of why so few service users on CTOs access IMHA services. It will focus on awareness and understanding of the IMHA role and attitudes towards IMHA services.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
19/WA/0031
Date of REC Opinion
10 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion