Course timings: 9.30am - 3.30 pm

Course code: W

Trainers: Stuart Sorenson 

Following a landmark judgement in the European court of Human rights (HL vs UK) the government has had to change the law affecting social care in England and Wales. Essentially workers caring for HL, a man with learning disabilities, were judged to be breaking the law even though they believed themselves to be acting in HL's best interests.  This judgement has massive implications not only for learning disabitlites service providers but for most careworkers throughout the UK. The Mental Capacity Act (2005) came into force partly in April and partly in October 2007.  It changed how we must work with people who cannot make decisions for themselves.  It extended the 'duty of care' and created a brand new code of practice that we all must adhere to or risk prosecution under the Act's new offence.

Most organisations will be able to meet the requirements of the new Act provided that their staff are kept up to date with what the law now expects of them.  That's where this workshop will be invaluable. The trainer's background and experience of working and training within social care, including for the Commission for Social Care Inspection, means that he is ideally placed to help you understand what the new law means for you and your organisation. As well as his extensive experience of working and training in general social care topics he has personally trained approximately 3,000 workers nationwide on the Mental Capacity Act for residential and nursing homes, housing associations, Borough and County Councils and statutory bodies such as the NHS or Social Services departments.

Having attended this workshop participants will be able to;

• Understand the background to the Act and their new, changed responsibilities;
• Understand the key principles of the Act and the 4 elements of decision-making;
• Understand how to use the law rather than fall foul of it;
• Understand their responsibilities over best interests and the truth about relatives’ rights;
• Use the Act’s checklists to ensure that they stay within the law;
• Work with the new compulsory state appointed advocacy service (IMCAs);
• Know the difference between restriction and deprivation of liberty (only one is legal);
• Gain the knowledge required to keep them working within the law.