Mental Capacity Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

This course will interest anyone employed in a social care setting, and in particular professionals working with people in residential care, supported housing arrangements or receiving care in their own homes.

Course Overview:

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework for professionals to make decisions when others lack the capacity to do so. It will explain how your roles and responsibilities relate to the protection of a person’s liberty.

This course will provide details of how to make decisions in the best interest of an individual, who to involve in a Best interest meeting and how to record the outcome. It will also clarify what a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard is (the Supreme Court Judgement of March 2014), and who is protected by DOLS legislation.

It will provide updates on the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LiPS) arrangements that will replace Dols as afforded by the Mental Capacity Amendment ACT 2019.

Proposed Learning Outcomes:

• What is mental capacity?

• Improved understanding of the emotional aspect of making a decision for a person who lacks capacity

• Increased awareness of MCA Legislation and Guidance

• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Test and the Best Interest Principle

• Understanding of your own Best Interest Checklist

• Understanding the formal MCA assessment process and need for partnership working

• Understanding the DoLS application process and managing situations between application and Best Interest Assessment

• Awareness of Independent Mental Capacity Advocate’s ( IMCA) duties and when to request IMCA support

• Update on forthcoming LiPS

• Develop an action plan to apply learning to professional practice