MCA guide

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a vitally important piece of legislation designed to make a real difference to the lives of people who lack mental capacity.

It empowers people to make decisions for themselves where possible, and provides a flexible framework that puts people at the heart of the decision-making process. It ensures people participate as much as possible in any decisions made on their behalf, and those made in their best interests.

Although many people have a duty under the Mental Capacity Act, the most important relationships will often be with close family and friends.

This resource has been developed specifically for family and friends of people with learning disabilities, so they understand how the Act affects them and those they care about.

"Using the Mental Capacity Act: A resource for family and friends of people with learning disabilities" was created as a joint project between:

• Hft’s Family Carer Support Service (FCSS)
• The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (FPLD)
• and the National Family Carer Network (NFCN)
• Funding was provided by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

The project team hope you will find the information it contains of interest and help.

You can download the guide below, or send an A4 self-addressed envelope with postage to our address for a hard copy and accompanying DVD.

Postage costs:

Each guide weighs 350grams; 1 x guide = £1.60 first class or £1.40 second class

The written guide is supported by the following videos:

1. Assessing Capacity

Watch the Assessing Capacity video

2. Best Interest Decisions

Watch the Best Interests Decisions video

3. Challenging a Decision

Watch the Challenging a Decision video

4. Health

Watch the Health video

5. Involving Family Carers

Watch the Involving Family Carers video 

6. Managing Finances

Watch the Managing Finances video

7. Moving Home

Watch the Moving Home video

8. Transition

Watch the Transition video