caringnorthants.org.uk

Mental Health Act 2007
Consultation
 

Mental Health Act 2007 Consultation
Hi. Thank you for taking a look at this page. I need your suggestions and in helping me you have a chance of influencing the way the new Mental Health Act will actually be made to work in practice.

Whilst you may have reservations about some or all of the Act’s content the fact is that it now has the Royal Assent and will be implemented. It is now up to local service providers to make sure that what is set out in the Act happens in Northamptonshire and across the Country. There are significant changes planned affecting the way Mental illness is defined, roles and responsibilities within the support community and the way  Service Users are managed through the Sectioning processes of the 1983 Mental Health Act (which will continue to apply as amended by the new Act).

A structure of groups of  people that will have to interpret the new law and see it implemented already exists at National, Regional and local levels. Priscilla Brown and myself, Andrew Bailey, carers ourselves, are representing Northants Carer interests at all these levels. We are therefore in a good  position to influence the wording of the detailed instructions that will go out from the centre to local bodies to implement the changes required by the Act.

As 2 individuals we can not expect to see all the difficulties of interpretation afforded by the legal language of the Act. Nor can we see all the risks of misunderstanding that may adversely affect Carers (and Service Users) or all the opportunities created by the changes to improve support for Carers and Users. You can help us with this. 

Attached are 2 documents that should help you to understand what the Act is trying to change about the way current Mental Health legislation works and some of the implications:

1. Click here to view the document, which is a 4 page table that shows how the 2007 Act changes the various stages of current practice through which a service user passes if they have to go to a mental health hospital subject to the Act
2. Click here to view a table, which will be updated  that sets out the risks that Carers face if the Bill is poorly interpreted at local level and the opportunities that could be gained by a positive interpretation and implementation.

You can help us by reviewing these documents and letting us know by e-mailing me at  andrewbmhbill@btinternet.com about any concerns you may have with the way the new rules might be interpreted or with any suggestions as to how the new rules might be understood to help Carers carry out our often challenging roles.

Please note that Priscilla and I are not in a position to change the Act; only to influence how it is interpreted and implemented. We therefore ask you to restrict your comments to what we can influence.

If you want more information including how you can contribute to the current consultation on the Code of Practice please go to www.mhact.csip.org.uk