Section 117 Aftercare

What is Section 117 Aftercare?

Section 117 Aftercare is free support for people detained under the Mental Health Act when they leave hospital. It helps them to:

• settle back into the community
• stop you from needing to go back to the hospital

Who can get Section 117 Aftercare support?

You can get to this support if you were detained under:

• section 3 (for treatment)
• section 37 or section 45A (hospital orders)
• section 47 or section 48 (transferred from prison)
• under a Community Treatment Order (CTO)
• under a conditional discharge (section 41)

Who will be part of your care team?

Health and social care work in partnership to provide services. You might work with:

• a psychiatrist or psychologist
• a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN)
• your GP
• a social worker
• an occupational therapist
• an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)
• a local authority housing officer
• someone with a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare or a Court-appointed deputy
• someone you choose to support you

What is included in this support?

Your health and social care team will assess your mental health and social care needs. They will make a plan for you based on:

• your condition
• your wellbeing
• the safety of others

The plan might include:

• medical treatment for your mental health, including medication
• medical reviews and, in some cases, free prescriptions for mental health-related medication
• support for alcohol or drug dependency
• help to identify risks to your wellbeing or safety, and that of others
• access to crisis intervention services to prevent relapses or manage crises

Social care services might include:

• information and advice to help you make informed decisions and access support
• support from social care workers to help you:
  • live well within your community
  • get benefits
  • find local services
• help with finding the right place to live, such as:
  • supported housing
  • residential care
  • changes to your home to help you live on your own
• help to build skills for daily life, work or study
• links to services like education, housing, transport and leisure

How long will I get this support?

You get support for as long as you need it.

When does this support end?

Your care team must agree when support should end. Both health and social care need to agree that your support can end. You should be part of this decision. They should not end your support just because:

• you have been discharged from specialist mental health services, like a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)
• a certain amount of time has passed since you left the hospital
• you choose to go back to hospital or your CTO ends
• you say no to support

If your support ends too soon and you become unwell, it can start again. Talk to your social worker or care coordinator about this.

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