Care homes for mental health needs: what is available

Some registered care homes in England are set up to support adults with mental health conditions, and CQC records this as a specialism. In CQC’s care directory dated 4 November 2026, 4,429 of 14,902 care home locations list mental health conditions among the needs they support. People discharged after certain detentions under the Mental Health Act may be entitled to free aftercare.

At a glance

• Care homes choose “service user bands” such as mental health, dementia or learning disability, and must show they can meet those needs.
• Section 117 aftercare is free and can include a care home place if it is needed because of the person’s mental health.
• For people under section 117, the council responsible is the one for the area where they lived before they were detained.
• Otherwise the usual Care Act assessment and means test apply, with capital limits of £23,250 and £14,250.
• Residents keep their rights under the Mental Capacity Act and can get an advocate.

What kinds of care home support mental health needs?

There is no single type. In England, the main options are:

• Residential care homes that provide accommodation, meals and personal care, often for adults under 65 as well as older people.
• Care homes with nursing, where registered nurses are on duty and the person also has nursing or complex health needs.
• Specialist homes that focus on recovery, rehabilitation or long-term mental health conditions.
• Supported living and supported housing, where the person has a tenancy and receives care separately. These are not care homes, but are often considered as an alternative.

Mental health needs in later life are also met in ordinary older people’s homes. Dementia is a separate specialism, covered in our guides to choosing a dementia care home and EMI care homes. For people under 65, see care homes for younger adults.

How does CQC register these homes?

CQC describes “service user bands” as the specialisms a location says it supports, for example dementia, physical disability, sensory impairment, mental health, learning disability or autism. A home that picks a band must show it can meet those needs for as long as a person needs the service, and staff must have the knowledge and skills. CQC publishes each location’s bands so people can see which homes say they can support them.

We counted the locations in CQC’s care directory file (produced 4 November 2026) whose service type is residential or nursing home. Locations can list several specialisms, so the figures overlap.

Listing a band is a statement of intent, not a guarantee of expertise, so always ask how the home supports people with your relative’s particular condition. A rating and inspection report show how well it does so. See CQC ratings explained.

What is section 117 aftercare?

Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 places a joint duty on the NHS and the council to arrange aftercare for some people who have been detained in hospital for treatment. The charity Rethink says people are entitled if they were detained under sections 3, 37, 45A, 47 or 48, and that the NHS and social services should provide aftercare free of charge. The statutory guidance confirms that section 117 aftercare is provided free of charge.

Aftercare can include specialist housing such as supported housing or care home accommodation where it is needed because of the person’s mental health condition and helps prevent a relapse. Rethink says ordinary housing is usually not covered, and that aftercare should stop only when the person no longer needs it to stay well. Under current rules the council responsible is the one for the area where the person lived before being detained, even if they later live elsewhere. The Mental Health Act 2025 will change some section 117 rules as it is phased in, including who is responsible for people placed out of area, so ask the council which rules apply. See moving to a care home in a different area.

People under section 117 have broadly the same right to choose their accommodation as someone supported under the Care Act. A resident under section 117 may also pay a first-party top-up, which is not allowed for most other residents. If you think your relative qualifies, ask the care coordinator or the council’s mental health team.

Who arranges and pays for a care home place?

If section 117 does not apply, the route is the usual one. The council carries out a needs assessment and, if it will arrange the placement, a financial assessment. In England, people with capital above £23,250 are expected to pay the full cost. Capital below £14,250 is disregarded, and between the two limits a tariff income of £1 a week for every £250 above £14,250 is counted. See the care means test explained and care home fees explained.

Some people with mental health conditions have complex health needs that may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare, which the NHS pays in full. In a nursing home, the NHS pays a flat contribution of £267.68 a week (standard rate from 1 April 2026) to the home towards registered nursing care. Benefits such as PIP may continue, depending on who funds the stay: see benefits in a care home.

What rights does a resident keep?

Living in a care home does not remove the right to make decisions. Capacity is judged decision by decision under the Mental Capacity Act, and if a person lacks capacity for a decision it must be made in their best interests. A care home cannot lawfully deprive someone of their liberty without authorisation. For care homes in England and Wales, the council for the person’s area of ordinary residence is the supervisory body for those safeguards. Read DoLS in care homes explained and mental capacity assessment.

People who qualify have a right to an Independent Mental Health Advocate. Others with substantial difficulty taking part in assessment and care planning can be entitled to an independent advocate under the Care Act. See what is advocacy in social care.

What should I ask before choosing a home?

• Which mental health conditions does the home support, and how many current residents have similar needs?
• How does the home work with the community mental health team and the person’s care coordinator?
• What is the plan if the person becomes unwell, and how are relapse signs recognised?
• How are medicines managed, and how often are they reviewed?
• What does the home do to avoid restrictive practices, and how does it involve the person in decisions?
• What activities, outings and routes back into the community are offered?
• How does the home involve family and respect the person’s wishes about contact?

Visit more than once, speak to residents where possible and read the latest CQC report. Our questions to ask when visiting adds more.

Frequently asked questions

Is aftercare under section 117 free?

Yes. Section 117 aftercare is provided free of charge by the NHS and the council. It applies to people detained under sections 3, 37, 45A, 47 or 48, and lasts for as long as the person needs it to stay well.

Can section 117 pay for a care home?

It can, where care home accommodation is needed because of the person’s mental health condition. Ordinary housing is usually not covered. The person has a right to express a preference for particular accommodation, and the council must arrange it if the conditions are met.

How do I know a care home supports mental health needs?

Check the CQC page for the home. The listed specialisms show whether it has told CQC it supports mental health conditions. Then ask the manager how it meets those needs and read the inspection report for evidence.

Can a care home keep someone who does not want to be there?

Not without lawful authority. If a person lacks capacity to decide where to live and the arrangements amount to a deprivation of liberty, an authorisation is required. If you are worried about your relative’s freedom, ask the council and consider an advocate.

Where to get help next

Ask the council’s adult social care team for an assessment, and see our guide to mental health support for older people if your relative is over 65. Use Find care to search homes and the funding checker to see who may pay.

Sources

• CQC: Service user bands
• CQC: Using CQC data (care directory, 4 November 2026)
• Rethink Mental Illness: Section 117 aftercare
• GOV.UK: Care and Support Statutory Guidance

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.