Mental Capacity Act & DoLS Training

Mental Capacity Act and DoLS Training

The Mental Capacity Act & DoLS training course targets individuals who bear a duty of care towards vulnerable adults. MCA DOLS training focuses on how to support adults who may lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions.

It gives you the knowledge and skills to handle these situations. The training talks about the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), which explains what mental capacity is and how to make choices for someone who can’t make them alone.

It also looks at five main ideas that help with decision-making under the MCA, like thinking about what’s best for the person and respecting their rights. The training also covers how to check if someone can decide things, what the Court of Protection does in these cases, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to stop people from losing their freedom without good reasons.

Overall, MCA DOLS training helps you make smart choices and take care of vulnerable adults who might need your help.

Course Info:

• Course Duration: 2- 3 hours
• Course Level: Level 2
• Certificate: 1-year certificate
• Max Delegates: 12
• Practical: Yes
• Course Mode: Face to Face/ Blended

This training will be completed with a test to see if you get what is important and if you can use the MCA and DOLs training ideas in real situations. Note that we offer this training for individuals and groups (organisation training) across the UK.

Online Courses: If what you are interested in is the mental capacity act and dols online training, please visit the shop section ( safeguarding online courses) and type in the search box to select the right course.

Course Module: Mental Capacity Act and Dols Training

1. Define and Talk About What Mental Capacity Means

• Definition of mental capacity according to the MCA
• Understanding the four main bits of capacity
• How capacity can go up and down and be about specific choices
• Thinking people can make decisions unless you can show they can’t
• Real-life stories and simple examples

2. Discuss and Say Who the Act Affects and How People Give Permission

• Who does the MCA affect? (Grown-ups aged 18 and over)
• Why saying yes with all the facts is important
• Getting a clear yes from people who can make decisions
• Choosing what’s best for someone when they can’t decide
• Talking about what’s best for someone

3. Discuss and Check the Five Main Ideas of the Act

• Thinking people can decide unless you know they can’t
• Doing what’s best for the person, thinking about what they want
• Picking the way that doesn’t stop the person doing what they want
• Making sure the good stuff is worth any bad stuff that might happen
• Getting the person involved in deciding as much as possible

4. Talk About How Mental Capacity is Looked At

• Knowing there isn’t one test for mental capacity
• Checking how someone can decide for the thing they need to decide about
• Being quick when checking capacity
• Picking the way that’s not too controlling when checking capacity
• Getting info about the person and how they talk
• Thinking about what’s right and how to do things best when checking capacity

5. Discuss the Role of the Court of Protection

• What the Court of Protection does and where it can make decisions
• When the Court might need to step in
• The Court deciding things for people who can’t decide (like money or where they live)
• Picking someone to decide for the person
• The Court helping to understand the MCA

6. Define What Deprivation of Liberty Means

• Saying what Deprivation of Liberty is under the MCA
• Knowing about the two bits of Deprivation of Liberty: stopping someone moving and messing with their head
• Examples of when someone might not be free
• Understanding the legal stuff about Deprivation of Liberty

7. Discuss Ways to Keep People Safe, Including Checking Risks

• Keeping people safe by making sure they’re not kept somewhere against their will
• Different ways to stop Deprivation of Liberty being done wrong
• Looking at risks to see what might go wrong with Deprivation of Liberty
• Thinking about what’s good and what’s bad about stopping someone’s freedom

8. Discuss How Deprivation of Liberty is Decided and Allowed

• Steps to see if Deprivation of Liberty is happening
• Checking stuff and talking to the right people to get information
• Asking the right people if it’s okay to stop someone’s freedom
• Making sure it’s checked often if someone’s freedom is stopped

Learning Outcome:

After completing the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS Training, attendees will:

1. Understand what mental capacity means and how it affects decision-making.
2. Know who the Mental Capacity Act affects and why getting permission is important.
3. Use the five main ideas of the Act to make sure decisions are good for people.
4. Learn how to check if someone can make decisions and decide what to do based on that.
5. Understand what the Court of Protection does to protect people’s rights.
6. Know what Deprivation of Liberty means and why it’s important.
7. Use different ways to keep people safe, like checking risks.
8. Understand how Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards work and what the process is to make sure everything’s legal.
9. Feel ready to handle tricky situations and make sure people’s rights are respected, even if they can’t decide for themselves.

Who Should Attend Mental Capacity Act Training?

Mental Capacity Act and DOLs Training (MCA DOLS training) is helpful for many types of professionals who work with adults who might struggle to make decisions for themselves.

Here are some groups who would find this training useful:

1. Healthcare workers: Like doctors, nurses, and social workers who decide on patient care.
2. Social care workers: People who help vulnerable adults in care homes or communities with daily life.
3. Support workers and care staff: Those who assist adults with daily tasks and need to know when someone might need help making decisions.
4. Law enforcement and legal professionals: Such as police officers, social workers, and lawyers who might deal with situations where someone’s ability to make decisions is questioned.
5. Family members and carers: People who look after adults who might struggle to make decisions and need to know how to help them. Basically, anyone who works with adults who might find it hard to make decisions due to mental limitations would benefit from this training. It helps them make smart choices, protect people’s rights, and make sure they’re okay.

Is Mental Capacity Act Training Mandatory?

Yes, Mental Capacity Act training is considered essential for many jobs that involve working with or helping people who might struggle to make decisions independently.

Here is why it’s so important:

1. It’s the law: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a rule that applies everywhere in England and Wales. If you work with people who might not be able to make decisions, you have to follow this law and its rules.
2. Industry standards: In fields like healthcare and social care, regulatory bodies and standards state groups that check on rules and skills say staff must get proper Mental Capacity Act training when they start and as they keep learning.
3. Keeping people safe: Knowing about mental capacity and doing things the right way is important for protecting people who might need help with decisions.
4. Human rights: The Mental Capacity Act is there to make sure people’s rights are respected. This means making decisions that are best for them with the right support.
5. Consent and best choices: If your job is about caring for people or giving them help, you need to know how to check if they can decide things, get permission the right way, and make choices that are good for them.

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) doesn’t apply universally, but for many roles, especially in healthcare, social care, local government, and other professions that support people who may struggle with decision-making, solid MCA training is vital. It makes sure you know what to do, follow the law, and do your job well.

Is Deprivation of liberty training a mandatory training?

No, Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) training isn’t a must for everyone. But it becomes necessary for certain people in situations where DoLS matters.

Here are things to keep in mind:

• Not Usually Needed: Most jobs don’t require DoLS training.
• Needed for Specific Roles in DoLS Cases: If someone’s situation involves DoLS (like being stopped from doing things freely), certain people involved in deciding about it have to complete a DoLS training. This helps them know the law and do their job right.

Who often needs DoLS training (when DoLS matters):

• Social workers who check DoLS situations.
• Healthcare workers who make choices about care and freedom.
• Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) who look into DoLS situations.
• Managers who handle DoLS cases in their groups.

Even if DoLS course isn’t needed for your job, it can be really useful for anyone who works with adults who might need extra help, especially in health and social care places. It helps you know when DoLS matters, follow the rules, and keep people safe.

Benefits of MCA and DOLs training

MCA and DoLS training bring lots of benefits for both professionals and the people they help.

Here are reasons why it’s so helpful:

For Professionals:

• Better Choices: It gives a clear way to make good choices for people who might not be able to decide for themselves, making sure choices are right and fair.
• More Confidence: It helps workers/employees feel sure about handling difficult situations where mental capacity matters, making them more confident in what they decide.
• Less Legal Trouble: It lowers the chance of getting in legal trouble by making sure professionals know and follow the law about MCA and DoLS.
• Effective Communication: It gives workers tools to effectively communicate with people who might struggle to make choices, making it easier to understand and work together.
• Improved Practice: It encourages putting the person first by making sure choices are made while thinking about what the person wants and feels, whenever possible.

For Individuals who may lack Capacity:

• Safeguarding rights: It protects the rights and safety of people who might not be able to make choices by making sure choices are made for their best interests.
• Feeling Strong: When possible, training helps people join in making choices, making them feel strong and in control.
• Less Fuss: By showing what’s right and fair, training can stop fights in situations where someone’s ability to choose is questioned.
• Better Help: It helps make sure people get the right care and help that fits what they need and like.
• Seeing Clearly: It makes how choices are made easier to understand, so people and their families can see why choices are made.

Overall, MCA and DoLS training are important for keeping the rights and safety of adults safe. It helps employees make smart and fair choices while putting the person first in care.

Advance your career by taking our Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) training for managers. We also offer a variety of other face to face safeguarding courses on our page.

What is mental capacity act course about?

Mental capacity act course teaches you to support adults who may struggle with decisions, focusing on their well-being and following legal guidelines for informed choices.

The course covers aspect such as:

• Understanding Mental Capacity: Knowing if someone can make particular decisions.
• Decision-Making: Putting the person’s well-being first, even if they can’t make the choice themselves.
• Core Principles: Following legal rules for making smart and fair choices.
• Court of Protection: Knowing what to do if someone can’t decide for themselves.

With this training, you’ll be ready to help when someone needs support with decision-making.

How frequent should dentists complete mental capacity training?

There isn’t a strict rule saying how often dentists must refresh Mental Capacity Act (MCA) training.

But here’s what’s generally recommended:

• First-Time Training: When dentists start their career or join a new practice, they should get thorough MCA training as part of their initial learning and orientation. This helps them understand the basics of the Act.
• Regular Refreshers: It’s a good idea for dentists to have a refresher MCA training every 2-3 years. This keeps them updated on any legal changes and helps them remember the best ways to do things.
• Advice from Dental Bodies: Groups like the General Dental Council (GDC) suggest that dentists should do ongoing training to keep up their skills, including knowing about consent and capacity.
• Practice Rules: Some dental practices might have their own rules about how often MCA training should happen. They might ask for it every year or every two years, as part of their own training and quality checks.

Even though it’s not a strict rule, doing MCA training every 2-3 years is seen as a good idea for dentists.

This makes sure they can check if someone’s able to make choices, follow the legal rules about consent and best interests, and keep patients who might need extra help safe, following all the latest advice and laws.

What are examples that explains Mental Capacity Act?

These are two scenarios to help you understand what mental capacity act and why taking a mental capacity act course is important for these cases.

Scenario 1: Medical Treatment and Alice’s Wishes

Alice, an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease, needs surgery. Her doctor believes the surgery is in her best interests but also carries some risks.

Alice, in her lucid moments, has expressed a strong desire not to have any invasive medical procedures.

Mental Capacity Considerations:

• Can Alice understand the information about the surgery, including the risks and benefits?
• Can she retain this information long enough to make a decision?
• Can she use this information to weigh the options and communicate her choice?

Practical Solutions:

• The doctor can assess Alice’s mental capacity using a structured interview and gather information from her family about her past wishes.
• If Alice lacks capacity, the doctor can involve her family in discussions about her care, considering Alice’s best interests and any previously expressed wishes.
• The doctor can explain the situation clearly and simply, allowing Alice to participate in the decision-making process as much as possible, even if her capacity is limited.

Scenario 2: John’s Finances and Bill Payments

John, a 75-year-old man living alone, has recently been diagnosed with mild dementia. He forgets to pay his bills and struggles to manage his finances.

His concerned daughter, Mary, wants to help.

Mental Capacity Considerations:

• Does John understand the importance of paying bills and the consequences of not doing so?
• Can he manage his finances safely and effectively?

Practical Solutions:

• Mary can work with John to assess his capacity for managing finances.
• If John lacks capacity, Mary can explore options like applying to become a power of attorney for John’s finances.
• This would allow Mary to manage his bills and ensure his financial well-being while respecting his autonomy as much as possible.
• Mary could also help John set up automatic bill payments or simplify his financial arrangements to make them easier for him to manage.

What is the difference between MCA training and DoLS training?

Mental Capacity Act Course gives you the basics to understand mental capacity and make smart choices in these cases. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Course goes deeper into one specific situation (when someone’s freedom is restricted) within the MCA rules, so you’re ready to handle those situations with the right legal protections.