IMHA Guidance for Commissioners

The Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) service commissioning guide has been prepared for the introduction of IMHA services on 1 April 2009. The guide outlines the statutory IMHA role, discusses good practice for IMHA services and outlines the commissioning process required to ensure high quality IMHA services are provided for qualifying patients under the Mental Health Act 1983.

The key to provision of IMHA services is effective commissioning. This guidance is designed to support commissioners in preparing for this new statutory service by providing a reference document to the legal and practical issues to be considered when commissioning IMHA services.
This document addresses equality issues throughout. They form an important consideration for those commissioning, delivering and receiving IMHA services.

Published December 2008, 58 pages