Abstract
Aims and MethodTo describe the extent and variation in the use of Guardianship nationally. The Directors of Social Services were asked to provide details about Guardianship cases on two separate occasions one year apart.ResultsThere were 428 new Guardianship cases in 12 months. At the second enumeration, 73% of cases were within the mental illness category and 47% of these had serious mental illness.Clinical ImplicationsThere is much variation in the use of Guardianship. Further developments of this study will explore the reasons for this variation and will ascertain clinicians' views on Guardianship, supervised discharge and other community treatment orders.
Highlights
73% of cases were within the mental illness category and 47% of these had serious mental illness
Further developments of this study will explore the reasons for this variation and will ascertain clinicians' views on Guardianship, supervised discharge and other community treatment orders
There was a requirement to reside in 443 (64%) cases, to attend in 182 (26%), and for access in 177 (26%)
Summary
Further developments of this study will explore the reasons for this variation and will ascertain clinicians' views on Guardianship, supervised discharge and other community treatment orders. Two community orders (Guardianship and Supervised Discharge) already exist under the Mental Health Act, neither allow for compulsory medication. The powers were defined in a wide and inexact way and subsequently under the Mental Health Act 1983, Guardianship was amended. It applied to those over 16 years of age, subject to the consent of the nearest relative, suffering from one of the four forms of mental disorder (mental illness, severe mental impairment, psychopathic disorder, mental impairment). The aims of the current study were to examine a national sample and to study variation in use of Guardianship by local authorities
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