Press Release

29 August 2007

NATIONAL CARE ASSOCIATION (NCA) LAUNCHES A MENTAL CAPACITY ACT ASSESSMENT TOOL

Today sees the launch of an assessment tool designed by NCA. The assessment tool will be an invaluable resource for care providers in assessing the mental capacity of service users within the framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which will be implemented in full in October 2007.

The assessment tool is arranged in three sections:

1  To assess whether or not a service user is able to make decisions about the functions of daily living.

2   A review of the decision about the functions of daily living.

3  To assess mental capacity about a particular decision.

Sheila Scott, Chief Executive of National Care Association said today: “As we worked on the Mental Capacity Act implementation over the last 18 months we realised that there were two challenges for care providers in implementing the Act. The first related to those people who did have some loss of mental capacity and we have designed an assessment form relating to the functions of daily living to allow the provider to assess the service user regularly without becoming bogged down in relentless paperwork.. We then designed a second form to make sure that a regular review took place in case there were a change in condition in someone who had been assessed as having some measure of loss of mental capacity.

Providers also need an assessment tool to make an assessment for more serious particular decisions.

We believe having taken the best of advice that we have designed a practical tool to assist members of NCA to meet the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act.”

The assessment tool is available free to members of NCA. Non members can purchase it for £65.00 plus post and packing.”

ENDS