Overview - A framework for Section 117 aftercare: What good looks like

Forward and introduction

This framework applies to England only and is intended to support Section 117 aftercare for people of all ages, including children, young people, adults and older adults. It reflects the law as set out in the Mental Health Act 1983 as currently in force. The Mental Health Act 2025 makes further amendments to Section 117, including changes relating to responsible authorities and ordinary residence; not all of those changes are yet in force at the time of publication. This framework will therefore require review and updating as further provisions of the 2025 Act are commenced.

Partners in Care and Health (PCH), with the support of the ADASS Mental Health Policy Network, have developed this Section 117 Aftercare Framework to provide practical support to local authorities, working with Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts and wider partners, to strengthen Section 117 governance and practice. Although PCH is rooted in adult social care improvement, this framework is intended to support lawful and effective Section 117 aftercare across all age groups.

The framework has been designed as a suite of inter-related documents, intended to be used together or separately, to support lawful, consistent and person-centred Section 117 aftercare. The framework comprises:

• Part 1: A Framework for Section 117 Aftercare Guidance, setting out the overarching principles, expectations and core objectives for effective Section 117 aftercare
• Part 2: Legal frameworks, common challenges and key judgments, providing clarity on statutory duties and relevant case law
• Part 3: A Section 117 Aftercare Toolkit, with an appendix which includes practical tools and templates that can be adapted by councils, such as assessment and review templates to support consistent and high-quality practice
• Part 4: Your rights under Section 117 Aftercare
• Part 5: Key findings from national engagement with people with lived experience, carers and professionals, capturing learning from those directly affected by Section 117 arrangements.PCH is a trusted network for developing and sharing best practice, developing tools and techniques, providing support and building connections. It is funded by Government and offered to councils without charge.

How the framework was developed? 

The framework has been developed through extensive engagement with national and regional forums. Crucially, the voices of people with lived experience of Section 117 aftercare and their carers have been central to its development. A national survey and a dedicated focus group provided insights into the quality and effectiveness of current Section 117 provision. 

This feedback has directly informed the person-centred, strengths-based and co-produced principles that underpin the framework, and the key findings are included as a core component of the suite. The framework provides a coherent and practical approach, structured around nine core objectives (pillars), which set clear expectations for lawful, strengths-based and co-produced Section 117 aftercare, supported by appropriate governance, oversight and partnership working. It reflects key themes emerging from national engagement and includes examples intended to support consistent, lawful and person-centred Section 117 arrangements in practice. 

The framework is intended to support those responsible for commissioning, arranging, delivering and overseeing Section 117 aftercare, and has also been developed with the ambition that it will be accessible and meaningful to people with lived experience and their carers. This framework should be read alongside the Mental Health Act Code of Practice, which remains the principal statutory guidance for the operation of the 1983 Act and includes detailed guidance on Section 117 aftercare, consultation, involvement and joint working.