The Department of Health is seeking views on proposed changes to the Mental Health Act (1983) Code of Practice. The Code guides health practitioners’ decisions, protects patients’ rights and ensures that the Mental Health Act is properly followed. It also gives advice to families, carers and people who are detained, treated or released under the Act about care and support available during a crisis.
The consultation strong code: better care asks for feedback on a new draft Code which includes five new guiding principles, new chapters on: the Care Programme Approach; equality, human rights and parity of esteem; mental capacity and deprivation of liberty; and victims. It also includes a significantly updated chapter on how to support children and young people, on the use of restraint and seclusion and the use of police powers and places of safety.
