All Posts

A family member may be told that visits must be supervised. Telephone calls may be limited. Visits may be reduced to a fixed time each week. In some cases, contact may be stopped altogether. This can be deeply distressing, particularly where the family member believes the restrictions are unfair, based on misunderstanding, or imposed because they raised concerns about care. At Nellie Supports, we provide independent mental capacity assessments, capacity assessments about care

The Nellie Standard is the framework behind how Nellie Supports approaches assessment, reporting, advocacy, and evidential work. Built around clear reasoning, visible evidence, independence, and scrutiny, it sets out the standard we believe professional work should meet before families, solicitors, deputies, local authorities, NHS bodies, tribunals, or courts are asked to rely on it

A mental capacity assessment does not always have to be completed by a doctor. This guide explains who can assess capacity, why the Mental Capacity Act test is functional and decision-specific, and when a social worker or specialist assessor may be better suited.

Mental Capacity Assessments are a cornerstone of ethical and lawful decision-making in health and social care. They are designed to empower individuals to make their own decisions wherever possible. However, when working with people who have experienced trauma, particularly survivors of abuse or long-term mental health challenges, the way we communicate during an assessment becomes just as important as the assessment itself. A trauma-informed approach ensures that we do not u

birthdays, weddings, religious celebrations, anniversaries, charitable donations, inheritance planning, property transfers, financial support for family members, and sentimental gifts made during a person’s lifetime. Sometimes the gift is small and familiar.

"Re ACC [2020] fundamentally changed deputy authority for NHS Continuing Healthcare appeals. Deputies can now only represent clients up to the DST assessment meeting. Any challenge to funding decisions requires Court of Protection authority—making early-stage representation crucial to avoid costly appeals.

If you have ever opened an Education, Health and Care Plan and found phrases like “support as required,” “access to support,” “opportunities for,” or “where appropriate,” you already know the problem.

Louise is a qualified and registered Social Worker with a master’s degree in international human rights. Louise has worked with adults and older people since 2002 in varied social care roles including as a university lecturer program lead. Louise currently supports students from Oxford Brookes university as a practice educator. Louise is an emphatic but professional and will strive to achieve the very best for all stakeholders.

Balancing robust capacity assessments with person-centred practice is one of the most important challenges in mental capacity work. This blog explores how legally defensible assessments can still remain ethical, relational and supportive, particularly when a person becomes distressed or overwhelmed during the assessment process.

In Life Expectancy Reports, a second opinion is sometimes necessary to ensure a comprehensive and evidence-based prognosis