The Care Act 2014 requires that local authorities must arrange an independent advocate to facilitate the involvement of an adult in their assessment, in the preparation of their care and support plan and in the review of their care plan, as well as in safeguarding enquiries and Safeguarding Adults Reviews if two conditions are met: 1) that if an independent advocate were not provided the adult would have substantial difficulty in being fully involved in these processes and; 2) there is no appropriate individual available to support and represent the adult’s wishes who is not paid or professionally engaged in providing care or treatment to them or their carer. Independent advocates are also known as Care Act advocates. This is separate from the provision of an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) where an adult lacks capacity to fully participate in decision making about their care.
