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POhWER’s trained advocates provide specialist and secure advocacy services across the country, including specialist face to face, non-instructed and group advocacy services.

Who can access our Secure and Complex Advocacy Services?

We provide face to face advocacy to people with a wide range of disabilities in a range of secure settings across the country including Medium and Low Secure units, Brain Injury, residential and CAMHS settings.

How can an advocate help?

Some people with learning disabilities, enduring mental health conditions, challenging behaviours, acquired brain injuries, autistic spectrum disorders and personality disorders reside in secure and specialist units across the country, including Medium Secure units (MSU), Low Secure units (LSU), CAMHS, step down and community units. Most people in these circumstances are detained under the Mental Health Act.

We have specialist advocates who can work with people in this situation, providing face to face, non instructed and group advocacy to empower clients who due to their circumstances are amongst the most vulnerable groups in society. In this way our advocates ensure that people are empowered to have their voice heard and a say in decisions being made about their lives.

We help people understand and participate in, their care and treatment plans and any meetings, keeping them at the centre at all times.They may be concerned about a range of issues where they live, need support to communicate their views and feelings to others about the services they have access to and to live the life that they choose. Our role is to understand the goals and ambitions that each person wants to work towards and to support and empower them to achieve these aims including supporting to raise any concerns or complaints.

As well as one-to-one advocacy, we provide group advocacy and support Patient or Resident forums.

Where do we provide this service?


We operate these advocacy services on behalf of a range of private providers including The Huntercombe Group, The Priory Group, St Andrews (including IMHA service) and Brookdale in over 60 settings across the country, from Scotland to Devon.

You can find out if we provide a Secure and Complex Advocacy service support in your area by clicking on the link below. If we don’t provide a service where you live, please call our support centre on 0300 456 2370 for information, advice and signposting to other organisations in your area who may be able to help you.

POhWER support in your area


How do I get support from an advocate?                  

If you would like support from this service you can speak to one our advocates when they visit your unit or ward. Or you can ask a member of the ward or unit staff to refer you for advocacy support. You, your family or friend can also contact us.

Secure Services and Independent Advocacy referral form (word version) 

Secure Services and Independent Advocacy referral form (pdf version)

Leaflets

Secure and Complex Advocacy Service leaflet (pdf)

Secure and Complex Advocacy Service in BSL Sign Language