Free financial guide published for people who lack mental capacity to make own decisions
- 13.11.2015
- RuthWright
- Court-of-Protection, Opinion, Court-of-Protection, Opinion, Court-of-Protection, Opinion, Court-of-Protection, Opinion
Empowerment Matters, a support and information agency, have published a free downloadable guide to Making Financial Decisions for people who lack mental capacity to make their own decisions.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 has recently been reviewed by the House of Lords Select Committee who were looking at the way it works in practice and recognised that it can be difficult to balance the need to protect someone from financial abuse and at the same time ensuring that they are empowered and involved in the decision making process.
The guidance published by Empowerment Matters is intended to help anyone who is involved in assessing someone’s capacity to make decisions and those who are making financial decisions on behalf of someone else. This may include carers, social workers, Deputies appointed by the Court, Appointees for benefits purposes, staff working in banks and doctors and other medical professionals who may be asked to assess someone’s capacity.
The guide gives practical suggestions and examples about how to support someone to manage their money and financial decisions in a way that maintains their independence for as long as possible. There are easy to follow check lists and helpful case scenarios.
Although it is quite lengthy, it is readable and easy to understandable and well worth dipping into.