The Mental Capacity Act 2005

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 was implemented in England and Wales on 01 April 2007 to provide the legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions for themselves.

The safeguards contained within the Act provide a framework for assessment and decision-making as well as defining a process regarding who should be consulted and the timescales for doing so.  

The following pages have been set up to provide information and support for the application of the Mental Capacity Act (the Act), including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) in Suffolk.

General guidance regarding the Act

Additional guidance regarding the Act can be found on the National guidance and updates page of this website.

Mental Capacity Act training in Suffolk

Suffolk County Council provides a number of training courses regarding the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2009. For details of these training courses, flyers, application forms and bookings please email carla.donovan@suffolk.gov.uk

Useful links to other sites

The Court of Protection

The Court was established with the implementation of the Act and has the authority to determine whether a person has the mental capacity to make a particular decision for themselves; make declarations or orders on financial or welfare matters affecting people who lack the capacity to make such decisions; appoint deputies to make decisions for people lacking the mental capacity to make those decisions and to remove any Deputies or Attorneys who fail to carry out their duties as identified within the Act.

Links

Contact details

Dominic Nasmyth-Miller, Safeguarding Advisor for Mental Capacity and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Email: dominic.nasmyth-miller@suffolk.gov.uk
Telephone: 01473 260813

John Godward, Mental Capacity Act Co-ordinator
Email: john.godward@suffolk.gov.uk
Telephone: 01473 264020