Care Programme Approach

Care programme approach (CPA) is an approach that is used in specialist mental health services to assess needs and then plan, implement and evaluate the care that you receive.

In Rise (the mental health service for children and young people), CPA is implemented when a young person reaches 16.

We use this process as a means of planning what services a young person will require when they reach 17 and need to leave Rise.

If a young person moves to specialist adult mental health services, they will continue to have their care reviewed by the CPA process, although the documentation may differ, from that used in Rise.

The person who coordinates this process is referred to as the care coordinator.

You might be offered CPA support if you:

  • are diagnosed as having a severe mental disorder
  • are at risk of suicide, self-harm, or harm to others
  • tend to neglect yourself and don't take treatment regularly
  • are vulnerable; this could be for various reasons, such as physical or emotional abuse, financial difficulties because of mental illness or cognitive impairment
  • have misused drugs or alcohol 
  • have learning disabilities
  • rely significantly on the support of a carer, or have your own caring responsibilities
  • have recently been detained under the Mental Health Act
  • have parenting responsibilities
  • have a history of violence or self-harm

What is the role of the care coordinator?

The care coordinatorr is the main person looking after your care. They will discuss with you what you need from services and support you to make your opinios known to others.

What is a care plan? 

Your care plan is a written plan of how your care needs will be met. it will include informaton about the treatment you are receiving and any other areas of your life that need support, i.e. Housing, education, employment. Your move to adult services will be planned as part of your care plan if you need to access to specialist services as you turn 17. If you don't move to specialist adult mental health services, your care plan will also say which support services you can use when you have left Rise. Your care plan will include what to do in a crisis and who to contact. This will include how you and others can notice when you are becoming unwell. You will be offered a copy of your care plan and asked to sign it to say you agree with the care that has been planned. Your care plan will be reviewed at leat every 6 months, although this will depend on how you are doing and may be more often during your transition to adult services or if you are leaving Rise.

What is a review meeting?

This is when your care plan is reviewed and altered depending on how thing are at the moment. It will involve you, your parents/carers and anyone else working with you. This will be your meeting, for you to discuss your care with the professionals working with you and NOT a meeting where others talk about you and make decisions without your input. The focus of your review meeting will be to talking about the things that are difficult for you and to celebrate the things that are going well for you. After your view, your care plan may stay the same or certain things may change. You will get a copy of you new care plan with the change on it. 

What is meant by carer's assessment?

The people in your family who care for you are also entitled to thier own assessment if they feel that they have needs that are not being met. These may be unmet needs that affect thier ability to provide care for you or unmet needs in thier own right. You can talk about this more with your care coordinator. 

If you are unhappy with any part of your care, please discuss it with your care coordinator to try and resolve your concerns. If you still feel unhappy that your concerns are not being resolved you can contact PALS.