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Mental Capacity Act
What every carer needs to know: a guide to mental capacity (added 11.4.11)Carers UK has been commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence to produce a resource on the Mental Capacity Act, for carers who look after people who may not be able to make decisions for themselves about health and social care issues. The resource takes the form of a booklet: Written in plain English, the booklet provides an overview of what mental capacity law is about and includes case scenarios to illustrate different situations that commonly arise. In addition to the printed booklet Carers UK will be producing web pages devoted to mental capacity, with video clips of carers’ experiences, and additional factsheets covering: Looking after someone at home; healthcare and treatment, hospital discharge; going into a care home; and disagreements about where a person should live. Download the booklet from www.carersuk.org, order copies (60p per copy or free to carers) by contacting the Publications Line on 0845 241 0963, or send an email to publications@carersuk.org
Mental Capacity Act - who's going to decide when you can't? Added 18.9.07
This Act came into force on 1st October 2007 and will affect anyone aged 16 or over who is unable to make all or some decisions. The Act states that everyone should be treated as able to make their own decisions until it is shown that they can't. It covers Living Wills (now renamed Advance Decisions), Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) and advance care planning. The law allows any member of the public, including carers, to legally appoint someone, such as a trusted relative or friend, to make decisions on their behalf once they lose the ability to do so. It provides a checklist that decision-makers, such as social workers, nurses and doctors must go through. The checklist includes the need to consult with carers and relatives. For more information visit www.westsussex.gov.uk.
A guide on the Mental Capacity Act for family, friends and other unpaid carers can be downloaded from www.dca.gov.uk/legal-policy/mental-capacity/publications.htm
You can get more information from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkQivHb1w_o - carers talk about their experiences of looking after someone who may not be able to make some decisions for themselves. As a carer you have the right to be consulted about any best interest decision made by professionals, such as social workers and health staff.
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