Revised Code of Practice: Mental Health Act 1983

The final versions of the revised Code of Practice to the Mental Health Act 1983 as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007 and the associated secondary legislation have now been published. You can find more information on this and current developments on the Act at the Department of Health Website.
Please note that it may take a little time for the secondary legislation to appear on the OPSI website.

Also on the website are:
Guidance on the transitional arrangements for ACUS patients; a summary of the changes to the Hospital Guardianship and Treatment regulations; a summary of changes in the revised Code; and the report of the consultation exercises.

Refocusing the Care Programme Approach (CPAA suggestions)

Download 'Refocusing the Care Programme Approach
Policy and Positive Practice Guidance' Implementation plan template (CPAA suggestions) - CPAA MEMBERS LOG-IN TO VIEW THIS FILE

CPA Care Co-ordination Core Functions and Competencies

This paper has been commissioned by the Department of Health, Care Programme Approach Review Group.

The paper presents:

• a functional map for the care co-ordination task; and,
• National Occupational Standards (NOS) which underpin these functions.

The functional map and associated NOS may be used to inform the implementation of Care Programme Approach (CPA) policy, including:

• the development of local protocols and procedures to support the implementation of CPA;
• role review and (re)design;
• the development of job descriptions, and recruitment processes;
• performance assessment, supervision and appraisal;
• skills review, to identify and inform continuing professional development needs and planning;
• training and education commissioning and delivery;
• curricula development;
• performance management; and
• service commissioning.

Method

Three key tasks were carried out to produce the functional map and associated competences. They were,

• a desktop review of literature and key policies and National Occupational Standard suites (Appendix 1);
• identification of the core functions of the care co-ordination role, and associated functional statements; and
• mapping competences against key functions, using the Skills for Health Competence Clusters tool.1

Refocusing the care programme approach: Policy and positive practice guidance

The Department of Health have released this guidance for health and social care professionals on the new arrangements for the CPA.

The DoH state, "Following the national consultation, Reviewing the Care programme Approach (CPA), and having considered the issues identified, this guidance updates policy and sets out positive practice guidance for trusts and commissioners to review local practice to refocus CPA within mental health services."

DoH Guidance For Service Users and Carers - 'Making The CPA Work For You'

The DoH have released two documents (March 2008), following their review of the CPA The first is a booklet entitled,"Making the CPA work for you", a guide for service users and cares on the Care Programme Approach. The second document is an accompanying leaflet of the same name with the additional sub-heading, "It is not about how you fit into services - It is about how services fit with you. A DVD is also available from the Department of Health.

The publications are introduced as:

A Booklet and summary leaflet for service users on the Care Programme Approach: the process of how mental health services assess users' needs, plan ways to meet them and check that they are being met. Users should always feel able to ask mental health workers to explain this process clearly.