Commentary on Sections Part 12 - Sentencing Chapter 4 : Further provisions about orders under Chapters 2 and 3 Section 207: Mental health treatment requirement
531.The mental health treatment requirement is based on the requirements as to treatment as part of a community rehabilitation order (paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000). Subsection (1) provides for the court to direct an offender to undergo mental health treatment for certain period(s) as part of a community sentence or suspended sentence order, under the treatment of registered medical practitioner or chartered psychologist. Subsection (2) provides that treatment may be provided in an independent hospital or care home (within the meaning of the Care Standards Act 2000) or a hospital (within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983), or as a non-resident patient at a place specified in the order, or as treatment under the direction of such registered medical practitioner or chartered psychologist as specified in the order. Under subsection (3), before including a mental health treatment requirement, the court must be satisfied that the mental condition of the offender requires treatment and may be helped by treatment, but is not such that it warrants making a hospital or guardianship order (within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983). The court must also be satisfied that arrangements can be made for the offender to receive treatment as specified in the order, and the offender’s consent must be obtained before imposing the requirement.
532.Under subsection (4), the offender’s responsible officer will supervise him only to the extent necessary for revoking or amending the order. Subsection (5) applies section 54(2) and (3) of the Mental Health Act 1983 for the purposes of the section. Subsection (6) defines “chartered psychologist”.