Mental Capacity Act Advanced – what is involved in this training course?

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is cited in Regulation 11 which requires that care, and the treatment of people using health and social care services, must only be provided with consent of the relevant person or those nominated to act on their behalf. 

According to the CQC, the Mental Capacity Act provides these principles in terms of how consent to care and treatment should be obtained: 

• A person must be assumed to have capacity until it is established that they do not. 

• A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision regarding their care unless all practicable steps to help the person to do so have been taken without success. 

It also states that if a person is considered unable to consent through lack of mental capacity, Section 4(7) of the Mental Capacity Act says that people in the following positions should, where practicable and appropriate, be consulted about what would be in the person’s best interests: 

• Anyone named by the person as someone to be consulted 

• Anyone caring for the person or interested in the person’s welfare 

• Anyone granted lasting power of attorney by the person 

• Any deputy appointed by for the person by the court 

Failure to comply with the regulations around the Mental Capacity Act and Regulation 11, which also covers in detail the definitions of what capacity and a lack thereof means, lasting powers of attorney, general powers of the court and appointed deputies, advance decisions among other areas, might potentially not only result in the compromised wellbeing of those being cared for but also it could mean significant financial penalties. 

It has been identified in the past by regulatory bodies like the CQC that failures to comply with the standards around mental capacity and consent have happened in part because of staff not completing training around the subject. 

So, if you’re looking for a training course that can elevate the skills and knowledge of your staff around mental capacity and how to navigate the complex nature of consent, the course offered by our Mandatory and Compliance Training tool can empower your staff to act with knowledge and confidence on the subject. 

Mental Capacity Act Advanced 

As well as the training course around the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS, the advanced course is aimed at those whose job role requires them to have clear understanding of how the Mental Capacity Act works in different situations, and who needs to be involved. It is for senior members of staff who will be involved in processes that pertain to mental capacity and consent to care on a regular basis, and is intended to be a follow-on to the Mental Capacity Act training mentioned above. 

The course content includes a detailed overview of the Mental Capacity Act and the Code of Practice as well as navigating complex decision-making, safeguarding matters, factors that might influence capacity and more. 

For more information on the Mental Capacity Act Advanced course, just click here. 

Person Centred Software’s learning and development products offer a wide variety of training opportunities for those working in care that cover every aspect of care provision, and which can ultimately improve resident experience and the quality of life of staff. To find out more about our learning and development products, just click here.