
Keely Parnaby
Keely is our Managing Advocate. She is an experienced Independent Mental Health Advocate as well as a manager of Advocates. Keely is an enthusiastic supporter of peer advocacy and lived experience and leads on developing this work for the organisation.

Peter Smith
Peter has been a member of Independent Advocacy’s staff for 15 years. Although undertaking advocacy support for a number of differing disadvantaged people, he is a specialist advocate for people with mental health disorder and has been for 20 years and is an Independent Mental Health Advocate qualified under the 2007 Mental Health Act.

Leanne Durnford
Leanne specialises in Care Act Advocacy Section 67 Assessment, support planning and review; Care Act Advocacy Section 68 Safeguarding; and Parental Support. She also has experience in Community Mental Health, Community DoLS and NHS Complaints. Leanne’s interests are travelling, photography and volcanology.
Ellen Doody
Ellen joined the Charity in 2021 as a Mental Health Advocate. She has previously worked in a number of children’s residential homes gaining experience in mental health. She holds a degree in English and Sociology. Outside of work she enjoys taking her dogs for walks and reading.