Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983, England, 2016-17 and 2017-18, National Statistic
National statistics- Publication Date:
- 20 Nov 2018
- Geographic Coverage:
- England
- Geographical Granularity:
- Country, Regions, Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs)
- Date Range:
- 01 Apr 2016 to 31 Mar 2018
Summary
This report contains information on the use of Guardianship under Sections 7 and 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 during the reporting period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2018, including a yearly time series since 2003-04.
Key Facts
Use of Guardianship continues to decline in England. New cases totalled 105 in 2017-18 and 140 in 2016-17, compared to 430 in 2007-08.
Numbers of continuing cases open at the year-end are also falling, as cases close and fewer new cases are opened. As at 31 March 2018, 300 people in England were subject to a Guardianship order, 25% fewer than at the same point the last time the data was published in 2015. This is the eleventh consecutive year of decline in continuing cases.
Of the 152 local authorities in England only 59 reported new cases in 2017-18 and 59 in 2016-17, whilst 90 had cases remaining open at the end of 2017-18.