Blackburn with Darwen Advocacy Hub

Free, Independent Advocacy Support In Your Area


Are you struggling to have your voice heard when making important decisions about your health, care, or rights?

The Blackburn with Darwen Advocacy Hub, provided by N-Compass, offers free, confidential, and independent advocacy support to help you understand your rights and speak up for what matters to you.

Blackburn with Darwen Advocacy Hub logo

Our Advocacy Services In Blackburn With Darwen

We offer expert advocacy support tailored to your needs, including:

  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
    Supporting individuals detained under the Mental Health Act to understand their rights and have a say in their treatment.
  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
    Supporting people who lack the capacity to make key decisions about their care, medical treatment, or accommodation and have no close family or friends to represent them. IMCAs ensure the person’s rights and views are in the persons best interest.
  • DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards)
    A legal framework under the Mental Capacity Act used to protect individuals in care homes or hospitals who lack capacity and under restrictions to keep them safe. It ensures that any deprivation of liberty is in the person’s best interests and properly authorised.
    The advocacy roles include 39a IMCA, 39D IMCA, 39C IMCA and Paid Relevant Person’s
  • Care Act Advocacy
    Helping individuals involved in social care assessments, planning, or safeguarding concerns to ensure their views are heard.
  • Generic Advocacy
    Providing independent support to those who may not qualify for statutory advocacy but still need help navigating health and social care services.

Not sure which type of advocacy you need? Contact us, and we’ll help you find the right support.

How To Access Advocacy Support

Getting support is simple. If you or someone you know needs advocacy support in Blackburn with Darwen, we’re here to help. Contact us now to find out more or to make a referral.

Your local Advocacy Team

Our Blackburn with Darwen advocacy team is made up of skilled, compassionate advocates dedicated to ensuring your voice is heard.

We work independently from health and social care services, so our only priority is you. We are commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Council, ensuring that our advocacy services are freely available to those who need them.

Get In Touch

We’re here to help. If you’d like to find out more about the support available to you, contact us today.

Download Referral Form

Our team will listen to your concerns and connect you with the right advocacy support.

Ben’s Story: Finding His Voice In His Care

Ben struggled with memory issues due to his mental health and felt frustrated with aspects of his care plan. Wanting to make changes but unsure how to navigate the process, he was referred to N-Compass for advocacy support.

Understanding that too much information at once could be overwhelming, Ben’s advocate met with him several times, breaking the process into manageable steps. Together, they created a document outlining his concerns, ensuring everything he wanted to express was clearly recorded.

Once Ben was satisfied, the document was shared with his social worker. Some of his suggestions were accepted, but others raised safety concerns. The advocate facilitated a discussion where the social worker explained the risks, helping Ben fully understand the implications of the proposed changes. After this conversation, he agreed to keep certain elements of his care plan, knowing they were in place for his well-being.

By the end of the process, Ben felt heard, valued, and more in control. With a renewed understanding of his care plan, he engaged with his support services with confidence, saying he finally felt listened to.

Even though not everything I asked for could be changed, it meant a lot to have someone really listen and make sure my views were put forward. I felt part of the process, and that made it easier to accept the outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are struggling to have your voice heard in health or social care decisions, you may be eligible. Contact us to find out.

No. Our advocacy services are free of charge, as they are funded by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

This depends on your situation, but we aim to provide support as quickly as possible.

We will match you with an experienced advocate who is best suited to support you.

Carers

We understand the challenges of caring and provide support to help you navigate the journey

Counselling

We provide therapeutic support, helping individuals overcome their difficulties

Wellbeing

We offer a range of services to help you take control of your health and well-being

Volunteer With Us

Join our team of dedicated volunteers who contribute their time to support our programmes

About Us

n-compass has dedicated over two decades to empowering individuals and communities

Our Impact

We measure success by the impact we have on individuals, communities, and our valued partners