Revised Care Programme Approach
One of the aims of the Specialised Mental Health Services programme is to support the implementation of the Revised Care Programme Approach (CPA).
The Care Programme Approach was established in 1991 as the care assessment, planning and review system for people with severe mental illness using specialist (secondary) mental health services. It is designed to coordinate activity to meet individual's needs for treatment, support and care across a range of services (e.g. medication, therapy, housing, finances, education and personal aspirations).
The Care Programme Approach has now been reviewed and refocused; and new policy and positive practice guidance has been issued.
From October 2008, the term Care Programme Approach describes the approach used in secondary mental health care to assess, plan, review and co-ordinate the range of treatment, care and support needs for people in contact with secondary mental health services who have complex characteristics.
It is no longer being used to describe the system of provision of mental health services to those with more straightforward needs (formerly standard support).
Click on the documents below to view and download:
Refocusing the Care Programme Approach:
Making the CPA work for you:

Click here to view other key resources
Key objectives:
- To inform and disseminate the new policy to stakeholders within the region
- Feedback common implementation issues to the National group
Key activities:
- Running a regional conference to inform people on the new policy.
- Developing a regional network to support dissemination of best practice and regional problem solving
- Attend National meetings around implementation and feedback common implementation issues.
Key contacts
- Patrick McGlynn - Specialist Mental Health Services Programme Manager - patrick.mcglynn@csip.org.uk
- Debbie Marr - Programme Administrator - debbie.marr@csip.org.uk

