Commentary on Sections Section 17 – Duty to coordinate provision of mental health services
28.Under this section a mental health service provider is under a duty to coordinate the different mental health services it provides, so as to improve the effectiveness of those services for the individual patient. A provider is also under a duty to coordinate its mental health services with those provided by another mental health service provider or not-for-profit third sector provider.
29.The mental health services that must be coordinated (if applicable for the individual service user) are secondary mental health services which include certain community care services (see section 49 of the Measure), local primary mental health support services, and (where applicable) the exercise of a local authority’s powers in relation to guardianship under the 1983 Act.
30.The care coordinator may (at any time) give advice to the service provider(s) on how the duty to coordinate services can be achieved. Where such advice is given the service provider must consider this advice, and at any time the service provider may also seek the advice of the patient’s care coordinator on how services can be coordinated.