The 2005 Mental Capacity Act aims to empower and protect people who may not be able to make some decisions for themselves. It also enables people to plan ahead in case they are unable to make important decisions for themselves in the future.
So it’s important for social care workers to have an awareness of the act and how to implement it in their work.
Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire councils found social care workers in their area felt Mental Capacity Act training lacked a practical approach that was relevant to different care settings. This often left staff with a lack of confidence when applying the act in practice, particularly when working with people reaching their end of life.
They worked with two local hospices to develop and deliver training to equip managers and care workers with a more practical understanding of how to apply the Mental Capacity Act in day to day work.
Materials were developed by an experienced Mental Capacity Act trainer in consultation with the training staff from the hospices. Sessions were tailored around these materials, and delegates were asked to bring case studies from their own workplace that they could use to discuss the implementation of the act within real life situations.
These discussions were complemented by a workbook that provided tips and tools to help participants understand how to interpret Mental Capacity Act principles in practice.
The completion of a post course questionnaire identified that participants felt significantly more confident as a result of the training.
The learning materials have been made available by Skills for Care for others to use (pdf).
One participant commented: “With the information gained, I would feel confident to challenge decisions where I wouldn’t before.”
Another said the training provided a “good practical level of training that is often not included.”
More information on the project is available on the Learn from Others website - search in the additional good practice section.
If you’re interested in applying for funding for a project you’re involved in, have a look at the Workforce Development Innovation Fund. Please note applications open each spring and you can sign up to Skills for Care’s enews to be kept informed.
Content on this page is produced and controlled by Skills for Care, sponsor of the Guardian Social Care Network leadership, learning and development hub
