The Care Programme Approach ( CPA) was introduced by the
Department of Health in 1991 as a framework for the assessment and
management of persons with a mental health disorder both in
hospital and the community. The CPA has been revised and reinforced
through a series of guidelines and circulars, the most recent of
which is 'Refocusing the Care Programme Approach - Policy and
Positive Practice Guidance' published by the Department of Health
in 2008. A copy of this guidance is available to download from the
Department of Health website.
The CPA framework is designed to ensure that anyone who is
referred to specialist mental health services has:
- a systematic assessment of their health and social care
needs;
- the formulation of a care plan to address their identified
health and social care needs;
- a key worker ( known as a care co-ordinator) who must keep in
close contact with the service user to monitor and co-ordinate
their care; and
- regular reviews
People accepted for care and treatment by specialist mental
health services will have the opportunity to plan their care and
treatment in accordance with a 'recovery' approach to mental health
problems as an accepted process for identifying and managing the
symptoms and needs of people who experience a mental health
problem.
Trust policy and procedural guidance concerning CPA and
associated guidance and information leaflets are available on this
website.