Audit of assessment of capacity to consent to admission

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was implemented in 2007. It sets out the statutory framework for determining whether or not an individual lacks capacity to make a decision, and also the framework under which decisions can be made on their behalf. Many of the patients admitted to SLaM wards or units are admitted under the provisions of the Mental Health Act, which provides the legal framework for their admission and treatment, and their detention. Patients are also admitted voluntarily, and are therefore considered to have consented to their admission and treatment. However, the trust does not necessarily know whether they had the mental capacity to consent to their admission. If they do not have capacity, the trust needs to ensure that the provisions of the MCA are being implemented. The aim of this project is to audit the extent to which capacity to make the decision to consent to admission is assessed, and at what point it is assessed. Following the audit, information about the need to assess capacity and the trust capacity assessment form will be redistributed, and a re-audit will be undertaken.