Community Treatment Orders were first introduced in 2007, following an amendment made to the Mental Health Act 1983. They have had a significant impact on the way psychiatric patients are discharged from hospital and treated in the community. They are highly controversial, with many patients and professionals having strong views over their use and length. It is clear though, that even when the Mental Health Act 1983 is reformed, CTOs will remain, albeit in a slightly altered form.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Properly imposing a CTO requires a fundamental understanding of the key principles of the Mental Health Act 1983, the purpose of CTOs, their scope, the extent to which aftercare must be planned and monitored, as well as clear communication with the patient through the lifetime of the CTO.

This one-day course:

• Clarifies the powers available to clinical and community teams.
• Considers which patients are and are not eligible for a CTO.
• Reviews the legislation and guidelines detailing patients who would and would not benefit from a CTO.
• Discusses factors which suggest longer term leave might be more appropriate.
• Considers the interaction between CTOs and Guardianship, especially for Children and Young People.
• Examines the interaction between CTOs and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including when DoLS should be applied for.
• Contemplates the extent to which treatment can be imposed both in the community and on recall.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Describe the purpose of a Community Treatment Order.
• Explain who should, and should not, be considered for a Community Treatment Order.
• Identify the CTO criteria.
• Apply the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to a patient either on, or about to go on, a CTO.
• Summarise the issues to consider and procedures to follow when revoking a CTO.
• Design CTO conditions, associated packages of care, capacity assessments and best interest assessments (using a case study).