Latest news and publications

Latest news and publications from the National Mental Capacity Forum leadership group.

• National Mental Capacity Forum webinars
  The National Mental Capacity Forum are launching a second series of National Mental Capacity Webinars.

• Chair appointed to the National Mental Capacity Forum
  The Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care are pleased to announce that Dr Margaret Flynn has been appointed Chair of the National Mental Capacity Forum.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) webinars
  National Mental Capacity Forum are running a series of rapid response webinars.

• NMCF Utilities working group - Update: February 2020
  The National Mental Capacity Forum's Utilities Working Group brings together a core group of stakeholders from the utilities sector who can take actions forward to benefit individuals that utilise services – this includes energy (gas and electricity), water and the communications industries. Find out more NMCF Utilities working group - Update: February 2020.

• Care Home Charter for medicines
  Developed by a specialist panel comprised of nurses, pharmacists, specialist speech and language therapists, care of the elderly physicians, and others

• NMCF supports the Dementia Alliance for Culture and Ethnicity

  The Dementia Alliance for Culture and Ethnicity (DACE) is an alliance of groups currently providing information and support to people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the UK who are supporting people with dementia. Find out more, Dementia Alliance for Culture and Ethnicity. DACE has made a film, called Finding Patience, about understanding the cultural heritage of individuals living with dementia. Watch the film, Finding Patience.

• NMCF supports the launch of Friends Against Scam

  Scams affect the lives of millions of people across the UK. People who are scammed often experience loneliness, shame and social isolation.

  Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team initiative, which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to Take a Stand Against Scams

• Money Club members pay thousands in fees after ‘temporary glitch’ It claims to be the UK’s premier shopping club – but, for many, joining has proved costly
  Guardian, 5 February 2018

  According to Age UK, cold calls disproportionately affect older people on landlines and are a big cause for concern.

  We hear of cases where a company signs someone up to something without their clear knowledge and consent, and sometimes even hiking prices without clearly communicating this to them.

  We are particularly concerned where companies take advantage of people living with dementia. The Mental Capacity Act is designed to protect people who can’t make specific decisions such as entering into a contract.

  Consumer policy manager Phil Mawhinney

• Support people to make decisions if they have capacity but find it difficult
  NICE, 20 December 2017

  Health and social care professionals should support people to make decisions who find it difficult, NICE says in new draft guidance.

• Chief Social Worker, NI welcomes initiative supporting people with learning disabilities
  23 November 2017

  Northern Ireland’s chief social worker, Sean Holland, has welcomed a new workshop and resource kit to equip people with a learning disability with the skills that they need to make informed choices and decisions about their lives.

  Speaking at the launch of 'The Capacity, Consent & Decision Making Workshop' project Mr Holland said: We need to listen to the views and wishes of adults with a learning disability and we need to acknowledge and act upon their choices.

• Next of Kin: Understanding decision making authorities, with Bournemouth University

• Care England Mental Capacity Act Implementation Survey: Report

• National Mental Capacity Act Competency Framework

• UK banker being kept alive against wishes of family and doctors
  Guardian, 15 November 2017

  Official solicitor expected to appeal against ruling that judicial permission is not needed to withdraw life support from Mr Y.

• English LA's face backlog of DoLS cases
  Community Care, 3 November 2017

• New guidance set to improve access to research
  Health and Care Research Wales, 16 October 2017

• Mental capacity: the principle of ‘all practicable steps’
  Community Care, 1 November 2017

  Section 1 of the Mental Capacity Act sets out five basic and fundamental principles which all those working with vulnerable adults should adhere to

• The Myth of Next of Kin. Professor Keith Brown of Bournemouth University discusses the importance of having a Lasting Power of Attorney in this seconds film in the NMCF's MCA Snapshots series.

• How Court of Protection judges decide best interests in end of life cases
  By Tor Butler-Cole, 20th October 2017

• Adult Safeguarding Toolkit - Royal College of General Practitioners

• The Mental Capacity Act 10 years on: ‘It is still misapplied and used against people’
  Community Care, 27 September 2017

  But the legislation has made social work with adults more relevant and made practice more person-centred, writes Ian Burgess.

• Councils risk heavy costs from not taking steps to promote capacity
  Community Care, 13 September 2017

  There are key practice implications from the case of a man who endured a year of celibacy because a council failed to provide him with sex education

• How does gambling impact vulnerable adults?
  Community Care, 7 August, 2017

• Lasting Powers of Attorney in the news – a more detailed explanation
  A good piece from Tor Butler-Cole and others.

• Wife in life support case hits out at legal aid ruling
  ITV News, 31 July 2017

• Services ‘too often’ failing to apply Mental Capacity Act properly
  Community Care, 27 July 2017

  Local Government Ombudsman issues warning after finding one in five social care complaints concerned the MCA or DoLS

• Here’s how you can help people with learning disabilities cast their vote
  Community Care, 5 June 2017

• Appointment of the Chair of the National Mental Capacity Forum
  Gov UK, 8 October 2015