Involving service users and carers in the care programme approach

Involving users and carers in developing care plans is a central aim of the Care Programme Approach. This paper describes a project designed to achieve this aspiration for the users of a non-specialist community mental health team's services. A postal survey of all users who were eligible for the CPA showed that respondents with a care programme n 21 were more likely to feel that they had choice in their care in the community than those who had not n 24. They were more likely to have been asked whether they wanted their carers involved and to feel that their carers' views had been listened to adequately. A large majority agreed with their CP, considered it was clear and comprehensive, and felt that they were being helped to become more independent.