Both the Mental Health Act (1983) and the Community Care Act (1990) give powers to health and social serivces professionals to provide support to people with a mental illness who are living in the community. There are three main support systems which overlap and have been implemented in different ways from one area to another:
- Care management – for people who have a need for care and support in the community. This may include someone who has not previously benefited from specialist psychiatric help. It is provided through social services staff who will assess the need for services.
- Care programme approach (CPA) – also for people with mental health problems who need care and support. It is provided by health and social services working together.
- Section 117 aftercare – for people who have been detained under the certain sections of the Mental Health Act in psychiatric hospital units. This is also provided by health and social services working together in the same way. This document deals with CPA and Section 117 aftercare.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that single copies of individual fact sheets are available free of charge to users of mental health services and their carers, but multiple copies are chargeable to organisations at the rates shown per copy. Photocopying of individual fact sheets by organisations is strictly prohibited.
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