Community Treatment Order

A Community Treatment Order applies to PATIENTS detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007, typically under section 3 or 37.

The MENTAL HEALTH ACT LEGAL STATUS CLASSIFICATION CODE section in force at the time of the Community Treatment Order  is suspended.

A Community Treatment Order will be made by the Mental Health Responsible Clinician, in agreement with an Approved Mental Health Professional, under section 17A of the Mental Health Act 1983 (inserted by the Mental Health Act 2007).

A Community Treatment Order has the same duration and renewal periods as section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 - six months initially, then renewed for 6 months, then renewed annually.

A PATIENT on a Community Treatment Order may be recalled to hospital for treatment where deemed necessary by the Mental Health Responsible Clinician (Community Treatment Order Recall).

A Community Treatment Order period can be ended by the following methods:

• Discharge or death of the PATIENT

• Revocation of the Community Treatment Order following a period of recall to hospital. The PATIENT will return to being under the original underlying section of the Mental Health Act 1983 under which they were sectioned immediately prior to the issuing of the Community Treatment Order.

A Community Treatment Order must be considered as an option by the Mental Health Responsible Clinician prior to granting or extending a Mental Health Leave of Absence for more than seven days (or for an indefinite period).