Adult Safeguarding and the Impact of the Mental Capacity Act 2005

Adult safeguarding work in the new Court of Protection centres is booming. Many child care practitioners in both the public and private sectors are looking at diversifying their expertise to open up the possibility of new adult safeguarding work as a major new stream of income. This course is suitable as a grounding in the subject and also as a refresher and update for those already practising in it.

The course will cover:

• The legal and policy framework in Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding
• Social Services’ responsibility to investigate and take action
• Proposals for law reform
• Definitions, types and the extent of adult abuse
• The use of a range of existing laws to respond to cases
• Opportunities to prevent abuse, for the victim to take action and for more formal intervention
• Mental Capacity and Decision Making: The Mental Capacity Act 2005: understanding how the test for incapacity will be applied in practice; best interests decision making; use of restraint; Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court Appointed Deputies; advance decisions to refuse treatment; the introduction of the two new criminal offences
• Financial Abuse - prevention and intervention
• The role of Court of Protection and Public Guardian
• The role of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
• Introduction to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• Legal Aid and the Court of Protection
• The impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on adult social work practice
• Recent case law developments

Course Dates

03/10/2012 London	10:00 - 16:45 Venue Information
16/10/2012 Manchester	10:00 - 16:45 Venue Information
17/10/2012 Birmingham	10:00 - 16:45 Venue Information

Susan Inker 
is a freelance legal and training consultant who formerly worked as a family lawyer in practice. She has developed and delivered training in the legal framework surrounding vulnerable children and adults, mental capacity for private, public and voluntary sector organisations, and domestic violence law.