Social Factors, Care & CTOs. Service User & Practitioner Perspectives
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Social Factors, Care and Community Treatment Orders. Service User and Practitioner Perspectives
IRAS ID
196566
Contact name
Julia Stroud
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 28 days
Research summary
Community treatment orders (CTOs) enable service users with mental health difficulties who have been treated compulsorily in hospital, to be discharged to live in the community, subject to conditions. Conditions include having medical examinations and often include one about taking medication. CTOs were introduced in 2008 when the Mental Health Act 1983 was amended. Service users can be recalled to hospital if it is in the interest of their health or safety or that of another person. A CTO lasts for 6 months but can be renewed. CTOs have been used more than expected with 5,365 service users subject to one on 31st March 2014. Research on CTOs is developing and has explored whether CTOs are effective and what service users and practitioners think about them.
It is well established that an individual's social environment influences their mental health, with empowerment, identity and relationships being significant in terms of recovery. However, there is no research on these areas in relation to service users on CTOs. We do not know if such factors relate to whether a CTO is discharged, or renewed, or if the service user is recalled to hospital.
The study will be carried out by University researchers; service user peer researchers and the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, using a range of different research approaches including:
*Statistical analysis of national and regional data on CTOs (especially on discharge renewal and recall to hospital to identify any trends and patterns);*A survey of care co -ordinators and responsible clinicians (psychiatrists) from across the South East region to gain their views on social issues and on renewal, discharge and recall;
*Interviews with service users on CTOs currently and recently and also of care co ordinators and responsible clinicians from across Sussex, who are working with CTOs;
*A small 'longitudinal’ study with about 6 service users who have a CTO made while the study is running, to interview them several times, and, with their permission, their care co ordinator and any other ‘significant person’ they identify , to understand how the CTO may affect/ support them as it progresses.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0556
Date of REC Opinion
18 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion