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The following are brief descriptions of some of the terms used in the Act, particularly new definitions, terms, roles and powers found in the Mental Health Act 2007. |
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Mental Disorder |
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The 2007 Act has introduced a new simplified definition of 'mental disorder' as "any disorder or disability of the mind". (Note: a person with a learning disability is not considered to be suffering from a 'mental disorder' for most purposes under the Act.) |
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Medical Treatment |
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'Medical treatment' refers to treatment "the purpose of which is to alleviate, or prevent a worsening of, the disorder or one or more of its symptoms or manifestations". Under the 2007 Act, 'medical treatment' has been extended to include nursing, psychological treatment, and specialist mental health 'habilitation' (learning skills), 'rehabilitation' (relearning skills) and care. |
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Community Treatment Order (CTO) |
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This is a legal order under which you can be discharged from formal detention in hospital under the Mental Health Act onto 'Supervised Community Treatment' (see below). |
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Supervised Community Treatment (SCT) |
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This is an arrangement where you are discharged from formal detention in hospital and required to comply with conditions set out in a Community Treatment Order, otherwise you may be recalled to hospital for treatment. |
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Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) |
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Approved Mental Health Professionals may be social workers, nurses, occupational therapists or psychologists approved by the local social services to carry out certain functions under the Mental Health Act. (The role of the AMHP replaces that of the Approved Social Worker/ASW found in the original 1983 Act.) |
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Approved Clinician |
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Some decisions under the Mental Health Act can be taken only by an 'Approved Clinician'. Approved Clinicians may be doctors or non medically qualified mental health professionals such as psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers. |
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Responsible Clinician |
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This is the clinician with overall responsibility for a patient's treatment and care (replaces the Responsible Medical Officer/RMO role found in the original 1983 Act). Certain decisions, such as placing a detained patient on Supervised Community Treatment, can be taken only by the Responsible Clinician. All Responsible Clinicians must be Approved Clinicians (see above). |
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Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) |
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From April 2009, all detained patients, and other qualifying patients e.g. patients under a Community Treatment Order, and the Nearest Relative have the right to support from a specially trained mental health advocate from an independent organisation. You have the right to meet the advocate in private, and, for instance, the advocate has a right to access your patient records, consult with anyone professionally involved with you, and can accompany you to section appeals and renewal hearings as you wish. |
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Care Quality Commission |
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From April 2009, the Care Quality Commission took over the functions previously fulfilled by the Mental Health Act Commission: e.g. keeping under review all aspects of the care of patients detained under the Mental Health Act; investigating complaints; appointing panels to give a second opinion on consent to treatment (including treatment given under Community Treatment Orders/ Supervised Community Treatment); and drawing up codes of practice for mental health workers. |
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