Mental Capacity Act 2005: guidelines for undertaking Capacity Assessments and making Best Interest Decisions

This guidance is intended to provide support in carrying out and recording formal capacity assessments and is not intended as a substitute for the Code of Practice. The documents covers: recording mental capacity assessment activity; principles of the mental capacity act 2005; when to assess capacity and who should carry out the assessment; assessments as part of needs or risk assessments and day to day decisions; capacity to agree to social care decisions; identifying the decision maker; advance statements and preferred place of care statements; capacity assessments; best interests decisions; independent mental capacity advocates; unwise decisions, duty of care, the role of the Court of Protection and inherent jurisdiction; and the role of the Court of Protection.