What is a Mental Capacity Assessment?
Imagine you have a friend who sometimes struggles to choose the right clothes for the weather. On a cold day, they might wear a T-shirt, and on a hot day, they might wear a thick jacket. You might wonder, "Do they understand how to choose clothes based on the weather?" In the same way, sometimes its necessary to check if someone understands certain important decisions about their life, like managing money or deciding on medical treatments. This check is called an "assessment of mental capacity." Your mental capacity reflects your ability to understand information and make informed decisions. This encompasses decisions across any aspect of your life. The Mental Capacity Act (2005), the key legislation governing mental capacity in the UK, clearly states that capacity is 'decision specific.' This indicates that while you might possess the capacity to make certain decisions, you could lack the capacity for others. As specialist mental capacity assessors, our approach is therapeutic in nature, focusing on assessing your mental capacity for specific decisions that you might find challenging, or in situations where concerns have been raised about a potential lack of capacity. Our mental capacity assessments are tailored to address these individual needs, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of your capabilities in making particular decisions.
Two Services, One Gold Standard
Mental Capacity Assessment
Ideal for routine legal or financial choices, writing a Will, granting a Lasting Power of Attorney, or deciding on health and welfare matters. Delivered by experienced professionals, every assessment is decision-specific, person-centred and fully compliant with the Mental Capacity Act (2005). Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to a solicitor’s request, our streamlined service supplies the clear, courtroom-ready documentation you need, efficiently and with genuine care.
Advanced Mental Capacity Assessment
When the stakes are high, large estates, family disputes, suspected undue influence or rapid cognitive change, our AMCA brings science, structure and courtroom-ready clarity. Following a brief telephone consultation, we blend the MCA 2005 two-stage interview with a bespoke psychometric battery, translating concerns such as grief, anxiety and vulnerability into hard data. You receive a CPR35-compliant report with an easy-to-read Psychometric Summary, offering deeper insight into emotional, cognitive and situational risk factors. Two visits, one robust safeguard.
Title | Mental Capacity Assessment (MCA) | Advanced Mental Capacity Assessment (AMCA) |
|---|---|---|
Purpose | Standard capacity assessment for a clearly-defined decision (e.g. Will, LPA, property, health & welfare). | Flagship service for complex, high-risk or contested decisions where ordinary interview evidence may require additional supplementary evidence to create a more robust argument |
Ideal for | Most everyday legal or financial choices that still require formal capacity evidence. | Large estates, family conflict, suspected undue influence or exploitation, or any matter likely to be challenged. |
Risk factors addressed | General mental-capacity concerns; assessor escalates if red-flags appear. | Explicit focus on: financial vulnerability, undue influence, cognitive decline, behavioural risk, grief/anxiety impact and other “evidence-pillar” domains. |
Assessment structure | One visit – decision-specific capacity interview (plus optional MoCA if required and appropriate). | Telephone consultation → Visit 1: Psychometric testing → Visit 2: Capacity interview (3-step pathway, but two client visits). |
Psychometric testing | Montreal Cognitive Assessment completed as required and appropriate | Person-Centred battery: MoCA, Financial Vulnerability Assessment, Financial Decision Tracker and assessor-selected NovoPsych scales. |
Emotional / psychological screening | Not included. | Anxiety, grief, trauma and similar factors measured quantitatively so their real impact (or lack of it) is documented. |
Report & legal robustness | CPR35-compliant capacity report. | CPR35-compliant capacity report plus Psychometric Summary Appendix explaining every score in plain English. |
What Decisions Can We Assess Mental Capacity For?
In England and Wales The Mental Capacity Act (2005) is the legal framework that is designed to empower and protect your decision making and applies to everyone over the age of 16 Years.
The Mental Capacity Act (2005) covers the majority of our decision making whether its every day decisions like shopping or more complex decisions such as where you live, whether you can manage your own finances or whether you can make decisions relating to your health. Nellie Supports can compelte assessments for any decision that requires an assessment and support.
Mental capacity assessments are often required to comply with legal standards and regulations.
Ensuring Legal Compliance
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Mental Capacity Assessments play a vital role in protecting the rights and well-being of vulnerable individuals who may not be able to make informed decisions on their own.
Protecting Vulnerable Individuals
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For families and caregivers, our mental capacity assessments offer reassurance that their loved ones are receiving the support they need to make sound decisions.
Providing Peace of Mind
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Mental capacity assessments are crucial for safeguarding the interests of individuals who may struggle with decision-making.
Expert Mental Capacity Assessments for Empowered Decision-Making
At Nellie Supports, we specialise in comprehensive mental capacity assessments tailored for adults, children, and young people. Our services include both decision-specific and retrospective evaluations, focusing on empowering individuals through informed decision-making. Each mental capacity assessment is designed to provide support and protect the most vulnerable, ensuring that all evaluations are conducted timely with precision and care.
Registered professionals giving you peace of mind
Experience peace of mind with our comprehensive social work services at Nellie Supports. Our team of registered and experienced professionals, are dedicated to providing exceptional care and support. From mental capacity assessments to a wide range of social work services such as EHCP appeals and life expectancy reports, our experts ensure accurate evaluations, personalised guidance, and the highest standards of practice.