The purpose of guardianship is to enable patients to receive care in the community when it cannot be provided without the use of compulsory powers. It provides an authoritative framework for working with a patient to keep him/her safe whilst achieving as independent a life as possible. Where it is used it must be part of the patient’s overall care and treatment plan.

Guardianship is focussed on social care needs and the patient’s welfare. If the need for compulsory powers is primarily in relation to medical treatment Supervised Community Treatment, if available, may be more appropriate.