Abstract

Changes to the Care Programme Approach for mental health in England were published in March
2008 following wide consultation . This learning resource is designed to support the existing
workforce to adapt to these changes and to prepare future care co-ordinators to work with the
refocused CPA.
This trainer’s manual is a freely available learning resource for updating, training and supporting
care co-ordinators with the new guidance. The care co-ordinator role may be taken on by a range of
mental health and social care workers, most commonly nurses, doctors, occupational therapists or
social workers. This list is not exhaustive and there will be situations where others take on the role
and they too will benefit from the programme.
It is designed to be used in the face to face training of all disciplines and agencies that provide
mental health services for adults of working age in the National Health Service, local authorities and
the independent sector. It may also be appropriate for those who work in the voluntary sector. It is
most useful when used in a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency learning context but may also be used
with a group of mental health workers from the same discipline.
At this stage of its development the programme is aimed at those who are, or will be, care coordinators
for adults of working age and the narratives and examples are from this group. Many
aspects of learning apply equally to those who co-ordinate care for other sections of society such as
older people, those with a learning disability, forensic contexts, children and adolescents (CAMHS),
but there will be certain contextual and policy differences that are not included in these materials.