Commentary on Sections Section 14 – Duty to appoint care coordinator for a relevant patient
23.A care coordinator must be appointed in relation to each individual (of any age) receiving secondary mental health services, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the person becomes a relevant patient.
24.The Measure recognises that over time the care coordinator for an individual may change, perhaps to reflect the changing needs of the person receiving services, and where this happens the duty to appoint a care coordinator continues. The Measure also allows for the temporary appointment of a care coordinator, where the care coordinator (for whatever reason) is temporarily unable to act. These provisions will ensure that all persons receiving secondary mental health services will have a care coordinator for as long as they receive those services.
25.The duty to appoint a care coordinator sits with a relevant mental health service provider (namely an LHB or local authority). Section 15 provides the mechanism to identify on whom the duty falls. An LHB or local authority may delegate the function (but not the responsibility) of appointment of a care coordinator to another LHB or local authority. This is provided for by sections 14(5) and (6) of the Measure in respect of LHBs, and by the Local Government Act 2000 and associated regulations in respect of local authorities.