05/10/2007   D14/07   Downland

Downland Housing Association and the Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a new law that affects anyone aged 16 or over who is unable to make some or all decisions. The Act strengthens an individual’s right to make their own decisions about care, medical treatment and managing finances. It also sets out new arrangements for if a person loses the capacity to make decisions in the future. Parts of the Act started in April this year and the rest was fully implemented on 1 October.
In March of this year West Sussex County Council held free training sessions to advise people working in Health & Social Care that the law was changing. The half a day training session gave a brief overview of The Mental Capacity Act.

Trudi Hamer, Senior Scheme Manager, from Downland Housing Association attended the session and identified a need for all Downland’s Retirement & Care Scheme Managers to have an awareness of The Act when dealing with their elderly client group.

Trudi said, “Downland Housing Association is committed to protecting the interests and welfare of all the residents it serves.

We have been working in partnership with West Sussex County Council to increase awareness to staff, residents and the general public as this change in the law affects everyone”.

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