Local SAR themes
Learning to emerge from recent local SAR's include:
• Mental Capacity Assessments:
• Assessment under MCA should be seen as a continual process, not a single
event.
• Assessment should be decision specific.
• Staff need to feel confident to assess capacity.
• 'Has (or lacks) capacity' - What does this mean?. Is the person making an
unwise choice or do they lack capacity?
• Lack of clarity on who can/should assess..
• 'Too ill to assess capacity' - consider what is the cause for the incapacity and
can the assessment be revisited once the person is well enough?
• Consider Executive dysfunction, particularly if a person is unable to
demonstrate the decision they are making, for example our frequent attendees
who are known to be alcohol dependant.
The MCA / DoLS E-Learning module will provide you with further information on
how to assess and record capacity assessment.