Advocacy

Advocacy is part of Hammersmith and Fulham Mind's Advocacy Advice and Information Service, and we are completely independent from the hospital and Social Services.

Our aim is to support and encourage you to speak for yourself in matters concerning your welfare whilst you are in hospital; and also to help you to have a voice in the planning of care and support once you leave hospital.
• We can provide information so you can make informed choices.
• We can explain your rights under the Mental Health Act and the Patients' Charter; and the Community Care Act.
• We can assist you to contact other agencies, solicitors or independent advice services.

We can support you to prepare for, and go with you to, any of the following:
• Ward rounds
• Discussions with staff about your treatment
• Care Plan meetings
• Hospital Manager Appeals
• Mental Health Review Tribunals

The Advocacy Service operates within a Code of Practice and if you want a copy then just ask us for one. The service is confidential, friendly & free.

To contact the advocates:
• Sue Simmons - Advocacy Worker for patients on the Adult Acute Wards at Charing Cross Hospital.
• Rita Jones - Advocacy Worker for older people with mental health problems and dementia.

You can telephone us on 020 7386 1188 or contact H&F Mind on 020 8741 0661

Advice & Information Service

Advice & Information Service is for people experiencing mental health difficulties, their friends and carers or other professionals.

We offer help/support on a wide range of issues such as mental health, housing, welfare benefits, money problems, domestic violence, harassment, isolation, difficulty in accessing statutory services and any other problems you need help with. Our service is run by a team of workers with extensive local knowledge, experience of assessing needs as well as counselling skills, we recognise that callers must feel able to determine the outcome of their contact with us.

How to contact us:
By telephone or in person.
Our Opening hours are:
Monday to Friday 10.00 - 12.30pm & 2.00 - 4.30pm
(except Thursday)
We are based at 153 Hammersmith Road, London W14 0QL
Telephone: 020 8741 0661 or email at isatu@hfmind.org.uk

Advocacy, Advice & Information Service has the "Quality Mark" awarded by Community Legal Services