Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

Guardianship is used to help and encourage a person to get the care they need outside of hospital. A Guardian could be a Local Authority, or someone else that the Local Authority has agreed to be a Guardian for the person. Under Guardianship a person should still be free to come and go from the place that they live. Section 7 or 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 under which a Guardianship order is made.