Mental Capacity Guidance Note: Assessment and Recording of Capacity

This purpose of this document is to provide for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings an overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of capacity. Its focus is on (a) how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing capacity; and (b) how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions.

Download the guidance note below.

Click HERE to read the note setting out the types of information that the courts have identified as relevant (and irrelevant) to the key categories of decision that arise most frequently, such as residence, care, context, deprivation of liberty, social media and sex.