The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is the national framework all mental health services work to in providing care and support.
The CPA framework includes arrangements for two types of support:
- CPA for people with complex characteristics, who are at higher risk, and need support from multiple agencies
- Care provided by an identified lead professional for people with more straightforward support needs. The Trust calls this ‘Lead Professional Care’ (LPC)
It involves:
- Working with service users and carers to establish care and support needs for each user
- Developing a care plan setting out what should be done and who is involved
- Identifying someone responsible for making sure the action agreed in the care plan is carried out (for people on CPA a care co-ordinator, for people on LPC a lead professional
- Making sure the care plan is reviewed regularly to take account of any changes
Needs can include things such as housing, benefits, finding and returning to work, finding a day centre or other sorts of activities, and treatment. Services to meet needs might be provided by mental health services, but they might also be provided by other services, when the role of mental health workers will be to help service users get access to what ever it is they need.
New CPA Guidelines
The Department of Health has issued new guidelines describing how the CPA process should work for everyone in contact with specialist mental health services. The changes started in October 08 with the transition from the old system of Enhanced and Standard CPA to the new system of CPA and Lead Professional Care.
Click on the link below to open the Government Booklet for service users and carers describing the Care Programme Approach: Making the CPA Work for You.
Making the CPA work for you (booklet)
If you have difficulty reading this booklet, you can ask the Department of Health for a copy of a free DVD: Making the CPA work for you. To order, please telephone 08701 555 455 or email: www.orderline.dh.gov.uk quoting product number 287804.
Information about the Trust’s CPA Policy and ways you can have a say in its development are set out on other pages:
If you have comments on the policy or any other aspect of CPA please contact
John Duguid, Acting CPA Compliance Manager,
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust
Greater London House, Hampstead Road
London NW1 7QY
Email: john.duguid@nhs.net
Updated: 24/6/09