Community care
- Support for young people in the care system
- Support for adults and children with disabilities
- Aftercare services for mental health (s117)
- Deprivation of liberty
- Best interest decisions and mental capacity
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Aftercare services for mental health (s117)
If someone has been detained in hospital under section 3 or other specific sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 and then discharged into the community or on extended leave from hospital, they will be entitled to free aftercare services until the local social services authority is satisfied that the person concerned is no longer in need of such services. This is sometimes called ‘section 117 aftercare’ as this is the section of the Mental Health Act the services are provided under.
The objective of these services is to help with ongoing recovery and to reduce the chance of a condition getting worse and resulting in a return to hospital. Aftercare support should be planned before a person leaves hospital, and the services provided could include:
- certain types of housing,
- services at home or in a day centre, and
- help to get supported employment.
With pressure on local authority care budgets, it can sometimes be difficult to obtain an appropriate level of aftercare support or to accommodate changes in circumstance as needs increase or reduce.
We can advise on:
- obtaining an appropriate assessment of the aftercare services a person is entitled to under section 117 Mental Health Act;
- challenging an inadequate assessment of services;
- challenging a proposed cut in or withdrawal of the services a person receives under section 117 Mental Health Act 1983.
Funding for legal advice or representation
Subject to your means, we may be able to obtain legal aid funding to bring a challenge to an unlawful decision.
Once we understand your circumstances, we will advise what funding might be available and discuss which payment options might work best for you.
