Care and aftercare
It can be difficult to find out what help is available from mental health service and who provides it. This page provides information about the care available to someone with a mental health problem, including aftercare for someone who has been under a 'treatment' section of the Mental Health Act.
What is the Care Programme Approach (CPA)?
The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is the system which coordinates the care of many people who are under the care of specialist mental health service.
Specialist mental health services such as a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) or Crisis Team are usually provided by NHS Mental Health Trusts.
The CPA has changed several times since it was introduced. The Care Programme Approach factsheet has up-to-date information about the current CPA system.
Take a look at the Rights to care and treatment pages to find out what else you're entitled to.
CPA requires health and social services to combine their assessments to make sure everybody needing CPA receives properly assessed, planned and coordinated care.
What if I am not on CPA?
If you are not on CPA you should still receive support, for example you might see a psychiatrist and/or regularly see your GP and receive support from social services or voluntary organisations like Rethink Mental Illness or MIND.
See the What am I entitled to if I am not on CPA? factsheet for more details
Direct payments
Direct payments are payments for people who have been assessed as needing help from social services and who would like to decide on and arrange their own support.
This offers more choice over the kind of services an individual receives.
See Direct Payments for more details.
