‘Service users and staff views and experiences of Community Treatment Orders'.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
‘This research aims to explore the views and experiences of mental health service users and staff regarding Community Treatment Orders. In particular, to investigate their understanding of Community Treatment Orders; the way in which being on a Community Treatment Order has affected their lives; and their preference with regards to Community Treatment Orders versus other methods of follow-up and re-admission’.
IRAS ID
131841
Contact name
sonji mitchell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Middlesex University, School of Health and Education
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 19 days
Research summary
Community treatment orders commonly known as 'CTOs’ were introduced into the revised Mental Health Act in 2007. Prior to the introduction of the CTO patients under section on the wards were granted s.17 leave. This leave was used to release people back into the community without discharging them from section, giving professionals the power to call them back into hospital. This practice was deemed to be inappropriate with the effect of creating the ‘revolving door’ patient. The decision to place someone on a CTO is made by the consultant psychiatrist 'Responsible Clinician' (RC) and must be agreed by an 'Approved Mental Health Professional' (AMHP). The RC is the applicant and the AMHP makes a recommendation. The patient is not the decision maker, they are expected to be compliant with the conditions of the order or face being 'recalled' back to hospital. There is limited studies exploring the effectiveness of CTOs both from the client and staff perspective. Therefore this study aims
(1) To profile patients who have been placed on a CTO since 2010 within the service to gain an understanding of the frequency of use of in comparison to ‘other’ interventions.
(2) To capture first hand accounts of service users views, knowledge and experiences of Community Treatment Orders. In particular, to explore the way in which being on a Community Treatment Order has affected their lives.
(3) To explore the professionals charged with implementing CTO’s views and experience of the effectiveness of CTOs in offering an alternative to compulsory inpatient treatment.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1231
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion