A local social services authority whose area is in England shall make such arrangements as it considers reasonable to enable persons ("independent mental health advocates") to be available to help qualifying patients for whom the authority is responsible for the purposes of this section.
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to the appointment of persons as independent mental health advocates.
The regulations may, in particular, provide—
In making arrangements under this section, a local social services authority shall have regard to the principle that any help available to a patient under the arrangements should, so far as practicable, be provided by a person who is independent of any person who is professionally concerned with the patient's medical treatment.
For the purposes of subsection (4) above, a person is not to be regarded as professionally concerned with a patient's medical treatment merely because he is representing him in accordance with arrangements—
Arrangements under this section may include provision for payments to be made to, or in relation to, persons carrying out functions in accordance with the arrangements.
Regulations under this section—