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