Re care plans and assessments
Hi riverofdragons
Personally I’m not on a care plan and haven’t had an assessment as I’m receiving psychological support through primary care, i.e. my GP practice only – and I’m happy with this.
It’s my understanding that there are two types of ‘assessment’ that you might mean here: a ‘care assessment’ which is about the social care support you are entitled to, and a ‘mental health assessment’, which is about being assessed as to whether detention in hospital, or other crisis intervention such as seeing a home treatment team, is considered appropriate.
You ask whether everyone has seen their care plan – as an example, in two recent annual patient surveys that I have records of, carried out by our local mental health trust, only 30% of patients the first year, increasing to 38% the next, said they had been given or offered a copy of their care plan; and just 26% of people one year, and 40% the next, agreed with what was written in it. And just 44% of patients one year, and 50% the next, said they found their care plan helpful. Anyway, I guess my point is that your experience most likely isn't unusual.
Now, as far as I understand it, according to your rights under the Care Programme Approach, ALL patients receiving secondary care mental health services, should be given a copy of their care plan, and care plans cannot be imposed on you – they should be based on agreement (and if you disagree with something recommended, this should be noted on the care plan, and it should not be imposed on you).
Information/rights – To get proper information about your rights with regards assessment and care plans I’d suggest getting in touch with one or more of the following:
-
Mind’s Legal Advice Service: 0845 225 9393, email:
[email protected]
You can also find info about legal issues and your rights on Mind’s website:
www.mind.org.uk Via Mind's website you can read, download or order their short booklets about mental health and your rights, e.g.
www.mind.org.uk/help/community_care/community-based_mental_health_and_social_care
www.mind.org.uk/help/rights_and_legislation/mind_rights_guide_6_community_care_and_aftercare This booklet includes info about the Care Programme Approach.
- A national helpline like the
Mind Infoline might be helpful too (number also available at
www.mind.org.uk), or
Saneline, or
Rethink’s national Advice Line (do a Google).
- The
PALS (patients’ advice and liaison service) for your local NHS trust will have a helpline, and they should tell you about your rights - and/or see their website. You’ll find details of the PALS service via your local mental health trust’s website or through some other kind of Google search.
Advocacy - I'd also check about your local mental health advocacy service. Advocates are independent from the services and can support you, give you information and tell you about your rights, attend meetings with you, speak up for you if you're finding it difficult to speak up for yourself, etc. If you have difficulty in finding contact details for local advocacy services, the helplines above should be able to tell you.

Hope some of the above might be of help