Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Directory

The MCA Directory helps to raise awareness about the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). You will find useful information and tools to help understand or implement it. There is material here for people who may be subject to the Act’s provisions, and for professionals from a range of backgrounds.

• More about the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Directory Open

  On 13 March 2014, the House of Lords Select Committee on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 published its Mental Capacity Act 2005: post-legislative scrutiny report, celebrating the ethos and achievements of the MCA, but calling for awareness and implementation of it to be extended. The Government’s response, Valuing every voice, respecting every right: Making the case for the Mental Capacity Act was published in June 2014, and among its commitments to promote use of the MCA was the commission to SCIE to collate, review and share good quality tools and information about the MCA.

  The MCA Directory is the outcome of that commission. It contains material about all aspects of the MCA, including resources about the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The material was gathered by SCIE researchers, or submitted to us as a result of a call for information via our website and newsletter.

  Once gathered, the information was quality assured by an expert panel. The panel consists of representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, SCIE, The College of Social Work, the Office of the Public Guardian, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), London Councils, Compassion in Dying, the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Skills for Care, and RUILS, a south-west London charity led by people who use social care services. The panel also included expert solicitors and trainers acting in an independent capacity.

  Each panel member reviewed material related to their area of expertise, against the criteria of whether the material was accurate and up to date, always recognising that material produced several years ago can still meet those criteria. Especially good material has been highlighted throughout the Directory. 

  The Directory will always benefit from more material. The greater the number of resources, the more likely it is that the MCA is widely and properly implemented. If you have any material you would like to submit, please contact us. If you have any general queries or comments about the Directory, please also contact us.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Acknowledgements - Mental Capacity Act (MCA) directory

  SCIE would like to thank the following for original development of this resource:

  • Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
  • Care Quality Commission
  • Compassion in Dying
  • Department of Health and Social Care
  • Housing Learning and Improvement Network
  • London Councils
  • NHS England
  • Keith Nieland, independent MCA trainer and consultant
  • Office of the Public Guardian
  • RUILS
  • Gary Rycroft, independent solicitor
  • Skills for Care
  • The College of Social Work

  SCIE is also grateful to all the individuals and organisations who have submitted material for the Directory, and to the bloggers who have consented to us linking to their work.

Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and the COVID-19 crisis

Those most at risk from Covid-19 are likely to be over-represented in the group of people whose rights are protected by the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. This new resource covers the implications of the pandemic on the MCA.

• View the MCA and Covid-19 guidance
• View the Covid-19 social care hub
• Webinars by Mental Capacity Forum