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Section 117 Aftercare

Understanding entitlement, planning, responsibilities, charging and when the statutory duty can end

Section 117 creates an important statutory aftercare duty for people who meet the legal criteria following certain types of Mental Health Act detention.

This guide explains what that entitlement means in practice, including one of its most important protections: services provided as qualifying Section 117 aftercare cannot be charged for.

It includes:

Who qualifies for Section 117
Why Section 2 alone does not create entitlement
What legally counts as aftercare
Health and social care responsibilities
Integrated Care Board and local-authority involvement
Planning support before discharge
Accommodation and community support
Charging and Section 117
Community Treatment Orders
When Section 117 can end
What happens when agencies disagree
Advocacy, complaints and legal support
A practical Section 117 checklist

A clear guide to understanding an important legal entitlement that can continue long after somebody has left hospital.

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