supervised community treatment
supervised community treatment
A format of mental healthcare which is provided for under section 17a of the Mental Health Act 2007. SCT is intended for certain patients after a period of in-hospital treatment. SCT allows certain patients with a mental disorder to be discharged from detention subject to re-admission if necessary, and is intended to reduce the “revolving door syndrome” in which patients leave hospital, stop their treatment, deteriorate and are then re-admitted.To be eligible for SCT, a patient must be liable to be detained under Section 3 (of the Mental Health Act 1983) or subject to certain specified provisions under Part III of the Mental Health Act (i.e., a hospital order, a hospital direction or a transfer direction without restrictions).
Factors in choosing supervised community treatment
• Patient is suffering from a mental disorder of a nature or degree which makes medical treatment appropriate;
• The treatment is necessary for their health or safety or to protect others, and can be provided without hospitalision;
• Appropriate medical treatment is available for the patient;
• The responsible clinician is able to recall the patient to hospital.