On the 13th March 2014, the House of Lords Select Committee on the Mental Capacity Act reported that the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act had not met expectations, suffered from a lack of awareness and the rights conferred by the Act have not been realised. This report provides the Government response to the 29 recommendations of the House of Lords, together with inputs received from a wide variety of stakeholders. It also sets out a a system-wide programme of work for the period of 2014 to 2015 and beyond. The work programme aims to improve oversight and monitoring by strengthen the implementation of the Mental Capacity Advisory Board and consider establishing a new independent chaired Mental Capacity Advisory Board; to raise awareness about the Act and improve its implementation; make changes to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards; and increasing the level of awareness and understanding of Lasting Powers of Attorney; and making changes to the Court of Protection.

This is the fourth annual report of the National Mental Capacity Forum. Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 crisis, the report spans three main aspects of the Forum’s work: evaluation of the efficacy of the Forum over its first four years in changing awareness of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and its implementation; the legislative changes that resulted in the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 to move from Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS); and actions taken from the outset of the pandemic to meet the needs of those who are protected by the MCA and support those providing care and having responsibility for the wellbeing of people with impairments of mental capacity.

Annual report of the Chair of the National Mental Capacity Forum, examining the Forum’s work over the year, the Chair’s priorities for the coming year, and details of Forum members. The report covers: the five principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; progress against priority actions from previous year; education and training; independent, daily living; the Court of Protection; supported living standards and inspections; supported decision-making; fluctuating capacity; best interest decision-making; the interface between the Mental Health Act (MHA) and the MCA; and the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019. The document also sets out the National Mental Capacity Forum’s priorities for the coming year, including revising the Code of Practice for the MCA; reviewing the rights and ability of people to form a relationship and show affection, including sexual expression of affection, between consenting adults; promoting support for people to make their own decisions; and commissioning a specific report into the deterioration in culture that occurs in some care settings, particularly how it relates to ongoing training and other aspects of individual staff support provided in these settings.

The first annual report by Baroness Finlay, the chair of the National Mental Capacity Forum, which provides details of the forum’s membership and its early work and achievements to implement the Mental Capacity Act. It also highlights some of the challenges raised by people implementing the Mental Capacity Act where further progress is needed. The Chair’s priorities to strengthen the implementation of the Act for the following year cover: hearing the voice of the person, improving practitioners understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, improved support for carers of people with impaired capacity, and to reduce and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people by financial and other scams.

This guide is intended for bereaved people and others who may be affected by a coroner investigation or are attending a coroner’s inquest. The guide provides bereaved people with an explanation of the coroner investigation and inquest process as well as links to other organisations that may also provide help and advice. Whilst the guide is focused on bereaved people, it will also be useful for others, including other interested persons and witnesses as well as members of the public who want to understand coroner processes. The guide includes a protocol of key principles which applies when a government department has interested person status in an inquest. The protocol aims to ensure that the department recognises the need for bereaved people to be involved throughout the inquest process. The guide is not intended as a statement of the law and does not cover every situation that might arise.

Annual report of the Chair of the National Mental Capacity Forum, covering the Forum’s work over the year, the Chair’s priorities for the coming year, and details of Forum members. Each chapter describes the achievements and ongoing work against the four priorities for 2017: Improving understanding; Hearing the voice of the person; Supporting carers; and Reducing and preventing exploitation. Achievements include the development of guidelines and training material for front line staff in the financial and banking sector and increased awareness of fraud and scam and the risks for people ‘in vulnerable circumstances.’ The report includes illustrative good practice examples of initiatives relevant to the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act.