Health and social care rights
Explains your rights to health and social care for your mental health. Includes information on eligibility for social care and how local authorities may meet your needs.
Useful contacts
How to find an advocate
To find advocacy services and groups in your area, you could call Mind's Legal Line on 0300 466 6463 or contact your local Mind.
If you're in hospital, you can also contact the:
- Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) in England
- Community Health Council in Wales
In some situations, you may be legally entitled to the support of an advocate. For more information, see our page on your legal rights to advocacy.
Other organisations
Carers UK
0808 808 7777
029 2081 1370 (Carers Wales)
[email protected]
carersuk.org
Advice and support for anyone who provides care.
Disability Tax Guide
disabilitytaxguide.org.uk
Guidance and support for anyone taking on a personal assistant to help them live independently.
Health in Wales
wales.nhs.uk
Information about health problems and treatments, including details of local NHS services in Wales.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
lgo.org.uk
The final stage for complaints about councils and some other organisations providing local public services.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
0345 015 4033
ombudsman.org.uk
Makes final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by the NHS in England and UK government departments.
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
0300 790 0203
ombudsman-wales.org.uk
Looks into complaints about public services and independent care providers in Wales.
This information was published in February 2023. We will revise it in 2026.
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.