Information for Mental Health (Leeds)

Mental Health guide

• Benefits
• Care Programme Approach
• Finding your way through the system
• Having your say
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Mental Health Act 2007
• The survivor movement
• Treatment
• Your rights as a carer
• Your rights as a service user
• What do the professionals do?
• Words used in mental health

---

Care Programme Approach

The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is the framework for good practice in the delivery of mental health services.In early 2008 the ‘Refocusing the Care Programme Approach Policy and Positive Practice’ document was published. This made changes to the existing Care Programme Approach.

One of the key changes is that CPA no longer applies to everyone who is referred to and accepted by specialist mental health and social care services. However, the principles and values do. CPA still aims to ensure that services will work closely together to meet your identified needs and support you in your recovery. If you have a number of needs, and input or support from a range of people or agencies is necessary, then the formal CPA framework will apply. When you’re needs have been identified and agreed a plan for how to meet them will be drawn up and a care co-ordinator will be appointed. You and your views will be central throughout the care and recovery process.

There are four elements to the Care Programme Approach:

• Assessment - this is how your health and social care needs are identified.
• Care Co-ordinator - someone is appointed to oversee the production and delivery of your care plan, keep in contact with you, and ensure good communication between all those involved in your care.
• Care Plan - a plan will be drawn up which clearly identifies the needs and expected outcomes, what to do should a crisis arise and who will be responsible for each aspect of your care and support.
• Evaluation and Review - your care plan will be regularly reviewed with you to ensure that the intended outcomes are being achieved and if not that any necessary changes are made.

The (new) CPA will function at one level and applies is not significantly different to what has been known previously as “enhanced”. For further details of the current list of characteristics that may lead to the application of the (new) CPA visit www.cpaa.org.uk/files/DH_083649.pdf

Your Care Plan review

Your care plan will be reviewed with you on a regular basis to see if it is going well or needs changing. You, your carer (friend, partner or relative) or any member of your care team can ask for a review at anytime. If it is decided a review is not necessary, the reasons for this will be shared with you and recorded.

Your Care Co-ordinator will agree a time and place for your review with you, which may include holding a meeting with other people contributing to your care plan e.g. a psychiatrist, social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist, your advocate. However, if you think this would be too stressful the care coordinator can either speak to these people individually or as a group, or with your agreement arrange for your advocate to speak on your behalf

The important factor is that this is essentially your care plan and as such it is important you have the opportunity to participate in the review and agree any changes or note what you do not agree with.

You can find out more about the CPA at:

www.cpaa.org.uk/new-cpa-guidance-march08