Assessing Capacity and Best Interests for Children’s Services - 29 November 2024

Aims

This course aims to enable participants from children’s local authority services who are familiar with the Mental Capacity Act to maximise their skills in assessing capacity and best interests in young people.

Learning outcomes

•             Enhance skills in assessing capacity and best interests decision making

•             Understand key lessons from case law for assessing capacity

•             Consider relevant issues and case law in relation to best interests

•             Apply learning into practice through case study scenarios

Programme

The course will include the following key topics:

•             Mental Capacity Act 2005 – brief overview

•             Defining & Assessing Capacity – brief overview

•             The vulnerable with mental capacity - unwise decisions v the inherent jurisdiction

•             Practical issues and challenges in assessing capacity: when to assess, frequency, reviews, who should assess, refusals to be assessed, disputes

•             Understand and Use or Weigh – detail and case law

•             Assessments of capacity – recording

•             Key case law examples of capacity – residence, care, contact, sexual relations

•             Best interests overview- decision making for those lacking capacity

•             Best interests case law - record keeping, balance sheet, consulting, less restrictive options

•             Best interests - case law: risk, vulnerability, contact, involving the person, wishes, consulting

•             Best interests meetings – when, why and how?

The course will be delivered by Dawn Revell

Dawn is a qualified Social Worker having obtained her professional status over 18 years ago. She continues to practice as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) under the Mental Health Act 1983.She is a joint trained investigator for safeguarding adults and presently has responsibility for managing and advising on complex safeguarding adult cases.  Dawn presently manages a generic, county wide social services emergency duty team. She has worked as an associate trainer for over 4 years and has designed, facilitated and delivered training on risk assessment, mental health, mental capacity and safeguarding adults.

Includes all course materials and a certificate. Course access details will be emailed direct to delegate(s) upon completion of your booking.  If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email events@edgetraining.org.uk  or call 07341 277487.