Health and social work services

Tender description

Velindre NHS Trust on behalf of Cardiff and Vale, Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf University Health Boards are inviting suitably qualified organisations to express an interest for provision of an Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service (IMCA). The purpose of the IMCA service is to help particularly vulnerable people who lack the capacity to make important decisions about serious medical treatment and changes of accommodation. It is available to those who have no family or friends whom it would be appropriate to consult about these decisions. The service includes adult protection cases (POVAs) and care reviews. IMCA also has a role in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) process. An IMCA may be instructed by the supervisory body to support a person for whom an authorisation is being sought; or to undertake the role of the relevant person's representative, or to provide assistance to the relevant person and their representative in exercising their rights under the legislation. At commencement of this contract, the geographical area of Bridgend County Borough Council will transfer to the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. Further details can be found in the invitation to tender document. The service will provide independent mental capacity advocates where there is no-one to consult about the person’s best interests, who are instructed to support and represent a person over 16 years of age who lacks capacity to make certain serious decisions and may include people with dementia, brain injury, learning disability, mental health issues, a stroke, or who are unconscious or in a coma. The IMCA’s role is to make representations about that person’s wishes, feelings, beliefs and values, at the same time as bringing to the attention of the decision-maker all factors that are relevant to the decision. This will include supporting the person who lacks capacity; obtaining and evaluating information; as far as possible ascertaining the person’s wishes and feelings, beliefs and values; obtaining a further medical opinion if necessary and ascertaining alternative courses of action. The IMCA will represent the person’s views and interests and prepare a report for the decision-maker. The IMCA will also be able to challenge the decision-maker.