How can I get a CPA assessment?

There are two ways you can get assessed under the care programme approach. You can either approach your GP and ask to be referred to your community mental health team for assessment, or you can contact the Social Services Department of your local council, who have various legal duties to assess people’s needs for care.

The easiest way is to ask your GP to refer you to the community mental health team, to have your mental health needs assessed. If you do not have a GP, contact either your local Primary Care Trust, your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service or NHS Direct to get a list of local GPs. NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 46 47 (calls are charged at a local rate) or you can look at their website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Your local council will have contact details for your local Primary Care Trust and local hospitals should have details of the local Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

If you have problems being referred by your GP or you don’t wish to approach him or her, you could also ask to have your needs assessed by your local council’s Social Services Department. If you decide to do this, you will have additional rights. Each local authority has a legal duty to assess people who seem to need services and to decide what will be provided. This duty was imposed by Section 47 of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. Download the draft letter: CPA assessment letter (22 kb)

Local authorities must consider every request for an assessment. If they refuse to assess you (this is very rare), they must give you reasons for this decision.