What LIBRA PARTNERSHIP LTD does

Libra Partnership Ltd is a UK-based specialist advocacy services provider, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Dartford, Kent. The company delivers statutory and community advocacy services across England and Wales under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1983, including Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA), Relevant Person's Representative (RPR), Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA), Community Advocacy, and Rule 1.2 Representative services for Community DoLS. In addition, Libra provides professional Litigation Friend representation for protected parties in Family, Civil and Court of Protection proceedings, and delivers specialist in-person and virtual training to social work teams, local authorities, healthcare professionals and care home staff.

The business operates with no proprietary technology platform — services are delivered by a team of approximately 40 qualified advocates with both lived and professional experience working to the Advocacy Charter. Supporting infrastructure includes an online referral portal (libra-referrals.co.uk), downloadable Easy Read accessibility resources, and a corporate website conforming to WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards via Recite Me assistive technology. The product surface is comprehensive within advocacy but does not extend into adjacent digital or AI-enabled services.

Revenue is generated through commissioned contracts with Local Authorities (notably Medway and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham), spot purchase arrangements with 50+ Local Authorities, NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards across England and Wales, Litigation Friend commissions from solicitors and public bodies, and fee-based training programmes. The company is founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, parent entity, or acquisition activity, and is led by Managing Director Vanessa Kalijärvi alongside Founding Directors Katie Smith-Palomeque and Manu Smith-Palomeque. Distribution is achieved through professional referral networks, formal advocacy consortia (HFAN, The Family Partnership) and direct enterprise engagement with public-sector commissioners.

Name

LIBRA PARTNERSHIP LTD

Legal name

Libra Partnership Ltd

Website

https://librapartnership.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Libra Partnership Ltd is a UK-based specialist advocacy services provider founded in 2016, delivering statutory and community advocacy, Litigation Friend representation, and training to Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, ICBs and legal professionals across England and Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dartford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Statutory Advocacy Services: Provides statutory advocacy services (IMCA, ICAA, RPR, IMHA, IHCA, Community DoLS) on a contracted and spot purchase basis to Local Authorities, NHS organisations, and ICBs across England and Wales. Revenue is generated through commissioned contracts and per-case spot purchase arrangements.
2. Training Services: Delivers regular and bespoke training to social work teams, local authorities, healthcare professionals, care home staff, and voluntary sector organisations. Training is offered in-person and virtually across advocacy and capacity-related topics.
3. Litigation Friend Services: Provides professional Litigation Friend support for protected parties in Family, Civil, and Court of Protection cases. Services are commissioned by Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, ICBs, and solicitors.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Libra Partnership provides independent statutory and community advocacy services (IMCA, ICAA, RPR, IMHA, IHCA, Community Advocacy, Rule 1.2 Representative/Community DoLS) for vulnerable adults across England and Wales. It also delivers professional Litigation Friend support for protected parties in Family, Civil, and Court of Protection cases, and offers specialist training on Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Mental Health Act, and DoLS topics to health and social care professionals. Services are commissioned by Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, ICBs, and legal professionals through contracted or spot purchase arrangements.

Product overview

Libra Partnership provides a comprehensive portfolio of statutory and community advocacy services across England and Wales. The core offerings include IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy), ICAA (Care Act Advocacy), RPR (Relevant Person's Representative), IMHA (Mental Health Advocacy), IHCA (Health Complaints Advocacy), Community Advocacy, and Rule 1.2 Representative services for Community DoLS. These services are delivered alongside Litigation Friend support and specialized training programs. The company operates through contracted local authority arrangements and spot purchase models, with dedicated services for Medway, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, and The Family Partnership for children's services advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Family Partnership: Advocacy service for parents whose children are in or on the edge of care in Medway, providing support to access services, understand court process and specialist mental health support for families at risk of or going through care proceedings.

Products and services

• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Statutory advocacy service supporting people who lack mental capacity to make certain decisions, ensuring their rights, wishes, and feelings are represented in best interests decisions. Provided for Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, and ICBs.
• Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA) Statutory advocacy supporting individuals with substantial difficulty being involved in care and support decisions under the Care Act 2014. Provided for Local Authorities and community partners.
• Relevant Person's Representative (RPR) Ongoing support and representation for individuals subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), ensuring rights are upheld and restrictions remain proportionate. Provided for Local Authorities and NHS organisations.
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) Advocacy for people detained under the Mental Health Act, helping them understand their rights, treatment options, and participate in care decisions. Provided for NHS Trusts and Local Authorities.
• Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA) Free, confidential support helping individuals raise concerns and navigate the NHS complaints process. Provided for NHS Trusts, ICBs, and self-referring individuals.
• Community Advocacy Non-statutory advocacy supporting vulnerable individuals to understand their rights, navigate services, and have their voices heard in health, housing, or social care matters. Provided through partnerships with HF Mencap and HFAN.
• Rule 1.2 Representative (Community DoLS) Representation for individuals deprived of their liberty in community settings under Court of Protection orders, ensuring rights are protected throughout legal processes. Provided for Local Authorities and legal professionals.
• Litigation Friend Services Professional Litigation Friend support for protected parties in Family, Civil, and Court of Protection cases, managing legal proceedings on behalf of those lacking mental capacity. Commissioned by Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, ICBs, and solicitors.
• Training Services Specialist in-person and virtual training for health and social care professionals on advocacy, capacity, duty to instruct, and relevant legislation including DoLS, Mental Capacity Act, and Mental Health Act. Includes Lunch & Learn, half-day, full-day, and bespoke programmes.
• Spot Purchase Advocacy Flexible, case-by-case advocacy commissioning for Local Authorities outside contracted areas, covering RPR, ICAA, Litigation Friend, and Community DoLS services. National coverage with 48-hour referral-to-allocation turnaround.
• The Family Partnership Advocacy for parents whose children are in or on the edge of care in Medway, supporting parents to access services and understand court processes, with specialist mental health support for families at risk of or going through care proceedings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Referral to allocation within 48 hours for spot purchase advocacy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hammersmith & Fulham Advocacy Network (HFAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibra Partnership is a member of the Hammersmith & Fulham Advocacy Network (HFAN), which brings together organisations supporting residents of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham aged 18+ to understand their rights, access services, and participate in decisions affecting their lives. Services include Community & Statutory advocacy, signposting, and guidance.
• HF MencapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibra Partnership provides Community Advocacy in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in partnership with HF Mencap. HF Mencap is a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities. The partnership delivers advocacy to adults who meet specific criteria including people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, dementia, and long-term illness.
• The Family PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibra Partnership is part of The Family Partnership in Medway, providing advocacy for parents whose children are in or on the edge of care. The service supports parents to access services, understand court processes, and provides specialist mental health support to improve outcomes for families at risk of or going through care proceedings.
• VoiceabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoiceability is referenced as an advocacy organisation that has worked alongside Libra Partnership. A testimonial from Voiceability's Area Manager states: 'We have worked alongside fellow advocacy organisation Libra for the past two years and have found the team to be collaborative, supportive, and responsive.' Both organisations share a commitment to ensuring people's voices are heard in decisions about health, care and wellbeing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Independent Age: UK charity providing advice, advocacy, and befriending services for older people. Comparable on Care Act advocacy and elderly support, but operates more narrowly on the elderly segment than Libra's broader advocacy portfolio.

Direct peers

• Voiceability: One of the UK's largest independent advocacy charities, providing statutory and community advocacy services across England and Wales. Voiceability is explicitly referenced as a peer organisation that has worked alongside Libra Partnership, and competes for the same Local Authority and NHS advocacy contracts.
• POhWER: Major UK advocacy charity delivering IMCA, IMHA, ICAA, and NHS Complaints Advocacy services nationally. POhWER is a direct competitor to Libra Partnership in statutory advocacy contracts, having absorbed advocacy services previously operated by other providers.
• Advonet: Leeds-based advocacy charity providing independent advocacy, user-led services, and partnership programmes across Yorkshire. Comparable service portfolio (statutory advocacy, community advocacy) and operating model to Libra Partnership.
• Together for Mental Wellbeing: UK charity delivering independent mental health advocacy (IMHA), community advocacy, and related services. Overlaps with Libra Partnership on Mental Health Act advocacy and person-centred support for vulnerable adults.
• The Advocacy Project: London-based independent advocacy charity providing statutory and community advocacy services including IMHA, IMCA, and Care Act advocacy. Operates as a direct competitor in the Greater London commissioning market where Libra Partnership is also active.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: National learning disability charity delivering advocacy and support services. HF Mencap is a direct partner of Libra Partnership in Hammersmith & Fulham, and Mencap's broader advocacy work overlaps with Libra's community and statutory advocacy.
• Rethink Mental Illness: Large national charity providing mental health advocacy, information, and services across England. Provides overlapping advocacy capabilities but as part of a broader mental health portfolio rather than a pure-play advocacy focus.
• Mind: National mental health charity providing information, support, and advocacy. Overlaps with Libra Partnership's IMHA services and broader mental health advocacy, though as part of a much wider mental health portfolio.
• Age UK: National charity for older people providing information, advocacy, and support services. Overlaps with Libra Partnership's Care Act advocacy and elderly advocacy offerings, though as part of a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/libra-partnership-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LIBRA PARTNERSHIP LTD