CPA Meetings

Legal Representation for a Care Programme Approach Meeting

Note: The Care Programme Approach (CPA) was superseded by the Community Mental Health Framework in 2021 for those in the community. For information about CPAs for inpatients, please continue reading. In any situation, one of our Mental Health Solicitors will be able to provide you advice tailored to your unique situation.

The Care Programme Approach is a care package that is used to plan your mental health care. Used to support your recovery from mental illness, the CPA is used to assess and review the health and social care needs of mental health patients. At a Care Approach Meeting a care plan is agreed in conjunction with the patient to aid their recovery.

A Care Programme Approach (CPA) Meeting is designed to be held at regular intervals for the professionals involved in your care. They review the current care pathway, treatment, and progress. It is possible for family and carers to be invited also.

You can have legal representation in a CPA meeting. As your legal representative, we can attend the meeting and advise on any legal issues that may arise. This may impact any decision to apply to the Mental Health Tribunal.

Cases of this nature are usually free under the Legal Help scheme, subject to a means assessment. This means that you do not need to pay for our professional advice and assistance. If you need advice with a CPA meeting, contact our experienced mental health specialist solicitors.

Our expert team of Mental Health Lawyers understand that unlawful detention can be an incredibly challenging and difficult to comprehend process. We always treat every case with sensitivity. You can contact our Mental Health Solicitor team through our contact page here. Alternatively, you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email us at info@reeds.co.uk.

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FAQ

The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is a care package that is used by secondary mental health services. The package looks to support your mental health recovery by helping you understand your:

  • Needs
  • Difficulties
  • Strengths
  • Goals

It will detail your care plan, including the provisions made for accommodation, medication, employment or training, and therapy. All care plans must also include a crisis plan, to detail what should happen in a crisis.

A CPA should be conducted every 6 months.

A Care Programme Approach Meeting is a regular meeting held by the multi-disciplinary care team that co-ordinates your care. At the meeting your ongoing needs and progress is assessed, and the care plan is modified to suit your current requirements moving forwards.

Written reports will be provided by all professionals in your Multi-Disciplinary Team. This will often include:

  • Doctors
  • Nursing Staff
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Social Workers

You are also allowed to have an Independent Mental Health Advocate present, and you can be legally represented if you wish.

The purpose of a CPA meeting is to agree a care plan to best aid your recovery.

As part of the process of a Care Programme Approach meeting, your progress will be considered, and if the team is discharge-planning, you should be assigned a care coordinator. They can be an occupational therapist, community psychiatric nurse (CPN) or a social worker. Together you will create a care plan which includes provisions for accommodation, medication, employment or training, therapy, and plans for what to do in a crisis.

CPA meetings will be held regularly by the multi-disciplinary team that co-ordinates your care. These will be held to monitor your ongoing needs, progress and ensure the care plan is implemented in the best way possible.

Yes, you may have a solicitor in a care programme approach meeting either with you, or in your place to represent you. If you have a Mental Health Advocate, they are also able to attend Care Programme Approach Meetings.

If you are currently detained under the Mental Health Act (1983), you will be entitled to a Care Programme Approach every 6 months. After you leave hospital, it is likely you will continue to have Care Programme Approach meetings if there is a need for one.

Yes, you may ask your care team how they make their decisions about what you receive. You can ask them for a copy of their CPA policy, which should explain the rules that they follow. They may also have this policy on the associated NHS Mental Health Trust’s website.

If you cannot see it, you can also make a freedom of information request to the NHS to receive a copy of the policy. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act provides the right to access recorded information held by public bodies. For more information, read more here.

The Care Programme Approach (CPA) for outpatients has been superseded by the Community Mental Health Framework. In September 2019 the Community Mental Health Framework proposed to replace the Care Programme Approach for community mental health services. It wanted to retain “its sound theoretical principles based on good care co-ordination and high-quality care planning”.

The Community Framework aims to provide a more flexible, responsive and personalised approach to community care.

The Care Programme Approach remains available for inpatients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Cases of this nature are usually free under the Legal Help scheme, subject to a means assessment. This means that you do not need to pay for our professional advice and assistance.