A special interest group is a community within a larger group who have a shared interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology. Members of the special interest group co-operate to resolve problems and produce solutions within their particular area of expertise or 'interest'. We want to bring individuals with shared interests together to reflect, discuss and plan how to move independent advocacy forward. This could involve sharing knowledge, skills or ideas, identifying and defining problems or working together to fix things.

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Session 1A     9.00 - 10.00 Getting ready for the LPS

The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act introduces changes to how people over 16 can be deprived of their liberty. This session is a practical session to consider what organisations may need to do to get ready.

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Session 1B     9.00 - 10.00 Redefining Non Instructed Advocacy

Advocating with a person who lacks capacity to instruct their advocate requires subtlety and the approaches we use need to reflect a deeper sophistication of language and understanding. Join this session if you want to contribute to a new understanding of NIA.

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Session 2A     10.30 - 11.30 Improving advocacy in restricted settings

Everyone who is detained in mental health settings is entitled to an IMHA - however there are concerns that advocacy isn't having the impact its needs to for people with a learning disability and autistic peopole. Join this session to explore what is happening to review and improve this.

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Session 2B     10.30 - 11.30 Improving equalities

Join this session to hear about developments to improve the role advocacy services have in advancing equalities. Join and contribute to the discussion to see how we can improve inequalities - both within and outside of advocacy.

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Session 3A     12.00 - 13.00 The Mental Health Act - getting prepared

The new Mental Health Act proposes serious changes to how people will access and use mental health inpatient services. Join this session if you would like to discuss these impacts and how to get your service ready for the changes.

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Session 3B     12.00 - 13.00 Increasing your community presence

Within advocacy we are seeing an ever increasing focus on statutory funded advocacy which has created a strange reliance on issue based models. This session will consider how to push our reach further into communities so that we increase our impact.

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