ABSTRACT
Contemporary mental health policy in the UK is very firmly devolved to its constituent countries, and their parliaments and assemblies. While England and Wales share a Mental Health Act, Northern Ireland1 and Scotland operate under quite distinct legislation. The process of deinstitutionalisation and the development of community care has been markedly quicker in England than in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales had not adopted the care programme approach (CPA) a decade after it became the core of mental health policy and practice in England. Accordingly, this chapter reflects the making of mental health policy in England. Readers are assumed to have a working knowledge of the current structure of health and social care provision in England.
