MCA resource - assessing capacity
Consider the following factors when assessing an individual’s capacity to make a specific decision:
- Presume someone has capacity
- Understand what is meant by capacity and lack of capacity
- Treat everyone equally
- Support the person to make the decision for themselves.
What is mental capacity and when might you need to assess capacity?
Having mental capacity means that a person is able to make their own decisions. You should always start from the assumption that the person has the capacity to make the decision in question (principle 1). You should also be able to show that you have made every effort to encourage and support the person to make the decision themselves (principle 2). You must also remember that if a person makes a decision which you consider eccentric or unwise, this does not necessarily mean that the person lacks the capacity to make the decision (principle 3). Under the MCA, you are required to make an assessment of capacity before carrying out any care or treatment – the more serious the decision, the more formal the assessment of capacity needs to be.
When should capacity be assessed?
You may need to assess capacity where a person is unable to make a particular decision at a particular time because their mind or brain is affected by illness of disability. Lack of capacity may not be a permanent condition. Assessments of capacity should be time- and decision-specific. You cannot decide that someone lacks capacity based upon age, appearance, condition or behaviour alone.
The test to assess capacity
The two-stage functional test
In order to decide whether an individual has the capacity to make a particular decision you must answer two questions:
Stage 1. Is there an impairment of, or disturbance in the functioning of a person's mind or brain? If so,
Stage 2. Is the impairment or disturbance sufficient that the person lacks the capacity to make a particular decision?
The MCA says that a person is unable to make their own decision if they cannot do one or more of the following four things:
- Understand information given to them
- Retain that information long enough to be able to make the decision
- Weigh up the information available to make the decision
- Communicate their decision – this could be by talking, using sign language or even simple muscle movements such as blinking an eye or squeezing a hand.
Every effort should be made to find ways of communicating with someone before deciding that they lack capacity to make a decision based solely on their inability to communicate. Also, you will need to involve family, friends, carers or other professionals.
The assessment must be made on the balance of probabilities – is it more likely than not that the person lacks capacity? You should be able to show in your records why you have come to your conclusion that capacity is lacking for the particular decision.
Who should assess capacity?
- Anyone caring for or supporting a person who may lack capacity could be involved in assessing capacity – follow the two-stage test.
- The MCA is designed to empower those in health and social care to do capacity assessments themselves, rather than rely on expert testing by psychiatrists or psychologists – good professional training is key.
- However, in cases involving complex or major decisions you may need to get a professional opinion. This could be a general practitioner (GP) or a specialist (consultant psychiatrist or psychologist).
