The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a statutory framework for people who lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions. It sets out who can take decisions, in which situations, and how they should go about this. It also enables people to make provision for a time in the future when they may lack capacity to make some decisions.

A detailed summary on the Mental Capacity Act can be found here:

www.dca.gov.uk/legal-policy/mental-capacity/mca-summary.pdf

The following partners are working together to ensure a co-ordinated approach to implementing the Mental Capacity Act in Waltham Forest:

  • London Borough of Waltham Forest
  • Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust
  • Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust
  • NHS Direct
  • Metropolitan Police
  • Training representatives from the above agencies
  • Voluntary sector
  • Users and carers

The Partners meet monthly as an Implementation Group and have been tasked with delivering the following key outcomes:

  1. Commissioning the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service by 1 April 2007 (delivered)
  2. Implementing a Training Strategy (ongoing)
  3. Raising appropriate levels of awareness of the implications of the Act across the whole of the London Borough of Waltham Forest (ongoing)
  4. Amending polices and procedures to reflect intentions of the Act (ongoing)

Key links

Waltham Forest Staff Guidance Note on the Mental Capacity Act (351Kb Word document, April 2007)

Waltham Forest Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service (external website)

Department of Health Mental Capacity Act information (external website)

Department of Constitutional Affairs (external website)

North East London Mental Health Trust (NELMHT) (external website)

Training

Mental Capacity Briefings are being held on 11 June and 13 June 2007 at Whipps Cross Hospital.

For any further information please contact Alison Rosenthal on Tel:  020 8496 3415

For further information

If you have any queries on implementation of the Mental Capacity Act in Waltham Forest please contact:

Bert McAlpin
Group Manager, Mental Health
Adult and Community Services
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Tel: 020 8496 3434
Email: Bert.McAlpin@walthamforest.gov.uk