Applying principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005

Scenario

The Local Safeguarding Board asks each partner to evaluate how they have implemented principles from the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 in relation to capacity assessments and best interest decisions. The principal social worker is asked to lead on this piece of work for the council.

Action

The principal social worker works with the MCA lead to develop an audit to demonstrate how key principles from the Act are being implemented locally. NICE guideline recommendations on decision-making and mental capacity are used to develop the audit questions, as they are aligned to the Act and are based on robust evidence of good practice.

Further guidance

The guidance highlights the importance of doing mental capacity assessment audits which include people’s views and experiences, and implementing the actions resulting from best interests decisions.

Relevant resources

Visit the adults' social care topic page for all NICE guidance and quality standards on adults' social care.

Guidelines

• People's experience in adult social care services guideline

• Decision-making and mental capacity guideline

• Community engagement guideline

• Intermediate care including reablement guideline

• Home care guideline

• Transition between inpatient hospital settings and community or care home settings guideline

• Domestic violence and abuse guideline

• Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community guideline

Quality standards

• People's experience using adult social care services quality standard

• Community engagement quality standard

• Intermediate care including reablement quality standard

• Home care for older people quality standard

• Transition between inpatient hospital settings and community or care home settings quality standard

• Domestic violence and abuse quality standard

• Medicines management for people receiving social care in the community quality standard