Advocacy is a way of supporting people to make sure their voices are heard and their needs are met. Advocates help people express their opinions, make their own informed choices, and exercise their rights.

Advocates are independent from our Trust. They are non-judgmental and confidential, and will only act on the wishes of the person they are advocating for.

We work closely with several advocacy organisations.

There are a number of other advocacy organisations working across the Black Country that may be of help. These include:

Sandwell Advocacy - Provide a free, confidential, and independent advocacy support to people who find it difficult to say and get what they want and need. 

Rethink Mental Illness - Citizen advocacy scheme matching volunteer advocates with people with mental health problems. Advocates provide help with exploring options and choices and representing views.
 

Healthwatch are the independent national champion for people who use health and social care services. They find out what matters to people, and help make sure their views shape the support they need.

There is a local Healthwatch in every area of England. They support local Healthwatch to find out what people like about services, and what could be improved, and share these views with those with the power to make change happen.

They have the power to make sure that those in charge of health and social care services hear people's voices. As well as seeking the public's views, Healthwatch also encourage health and social care services to involve people in decisions that affect them.

Contact details for local Healthwatch organisations to the Trust:

 

Healthwatch Dudley

Address: 7 Albion Street

Brierley Hill

DY5 3EE

Telephone: 03000 111 001

Email: hello@healthwatchdudley.co.uk

Please click here for their website.

 

Healthwatch Walsall

Address: Blakenall Village Centre
79 Thames Road
Blakenall
Walsall
WS3 1LZ

Email: info@healthwatchwalsall.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 470 1660 

Please click here for their website

 

Healthwatch Wolverhampton

Address: Regent House
First Floor
Bath Avenue
WV1 4EG

Email: info@healthwatchwolverhampton.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 470 1944

Please click here for their website

 

Healthwatch Sandwell

Address: Walker Grange
Central Avenue
Tipton
DY4 9RY

Telephone: 0121 569 7211

Email: info@healthwatchsandwell.co.uk

Please click here for their website.

POhWER provides advocacy services in Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall. They provide a range of services such as:

  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

An IMHA is an independent advocate who is trained in the Mental Health Act 1983 and supports people to understand their rights under the Act and participate in decisions about their care and treatment. Our advocates are not employed by the NHS or any private healthcare provider and they provide free, independent and confidential support. 

  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)

An IMCA is an advocate who has been specially trained to support people who are not able to make certain decisions for themselves and do not have family or friends who are able to speak for them. IMCAs do not make decisions and they are independent of the people who do make the decisions.

  • Community Advocacy

People who are vulnerable due to a disability, illness or their age may find it difficult to put their views across or feel they aren’t being listened to. Our advocates can support people to deal with an issue they are facing.

  • Care Act Advocacy

The Care Act says that local councils must involve people in decisions about their care and support needs.  If it would be difficult for someone to be involved without support the council must make sure they get the help they need. If the person doesn’t have someone who can help them they have the right to have an independent Care Act advocate.

  • NHS Complaints Advocacy

Please see below for the services that are offered in the local areas of the Trust:

Sandwell

  • NHS Complaints Advocacy
  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Relevant Person's Paid Representative (RPPR)
  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) including an issue based advocacy service for informal inpatients of Hallam Street Hospital via drop ins.
  • Care Act Advocacy 
  • Community Advocacy for any person in Sandwell receiving care/welfare services who has age-related needs, disabilities or prescribed physical or mental health conditions.

Please click here to visit their website.

Wolverhampton

  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Relevant Person's Paid Representative Services (RPPR)
  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
  • Care Act Advocacy

Please click here to visit their website.

Walsall

  • NHS Complaints Advocacy 
  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Paid Relevant Persons Representative (RPPR)
  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

Please click here to visit their website.

Dudley

  • NHS Complaints Advocacy 

Please click here to visit their website.

If you wish to get in contact with this service by written correspondence or telephone, you can do so using the below contact details: 

 

Address: 

Pohwer

Scott House

Custard Factory

Gibb Street

Deritend

Birmingham

B9 4AA

 

Telephone: 0300 456 2370

VoiceAbility provides Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) for the Trust for Dudley.

The advocates provide issues-based, one-to-one advocacy. This means the advocate will agree a plan with the individual based on issues that concern the individual. Once these issues have reached an agreed outcome the advocacy service is no longer needed. The advocates aim to promote independence, supporting people to move towards being able to self-advocate. 

Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs) support people with issues relating to their care and treatment when they have been detained (sectioned) under the Mental Health Act. They also help people understand their rights under the Mental Health Act.

Please click here to visit their website.

Telephone: 0300 303 1660

Email: helpline@voiceability.org