Service Users' Experiences of Recovery Under the 2008 Care Programme Approach

The study focuses on the 2008 Care Programme Approach in relation to recovery. This approach is designed for people who use secondary mental health care services and have wide-ranging needs, or are thought to be particularly at risk.

The study stems from a partnership between the Mental Health Foundation and the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) for mental health. It has been designed and carried out by two service user researchers: Dorothy Gould, the project lead, and Sarah Yiannoullou, NSUN's Managing Director.

The results of the study demonstrate that, whilst service users hold some positive views about the 2008 Care Programme Approach, they also think that significant improvements are needed if they are to recover.

Service users were concerned about differences between service users' and professionals' ideas of recovery; they also felt that the type of service provision on offer was inadequate, and that service users from marginalised communities often faced significant disadvantages.

Service users reported dissatisfcation with the involvement in their care plans and in strategic decisions, as well as with unresolved differences between their concepts of recovery and the compulsory powers of the Mental Health Act of 2007.

Contact Dr Eva Cyhlarova, Head or Research at the Mental Health Foundation, or Dorothy Gould for information about the project.