After Care [s.117]

It is the joint responsibility of both the Health Service and the Local Authority to provide aftercare for discharged patients previously detained under a treatment [not assessment] order. The form and extent of this aftercare is not defined by the legislation, but should be based on the patient’s needs. The patient and/or their family cannot be charged for aftercare given under section 117. Aftercare should continue to be provided for as long as the patient needs it and can only end with the joint agreement of both the Health and the Local Authority.

Though not a legal requirement, where some care input from a voluntary organisation [e.g. voluntary housing agency] is an element of the S117 discharge plan, that organisation should be included in discussions of an individual’s aftercare needs.