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Coverage of England & Wales
Types of Decisions We Assess
Mental capacity is always decision-specific, and our team is experienced in assessing capacity for a wide range of circumstances. Whether you need evidence to support a property sale, lifetime gift, creation of a Lasting Power of Attorney, or any other important choice, we’re here to help. Every assessment is tailored to your individual situation and fully compliant with the Mental Capacity Act (2005), giving you clarity and confidence that your report will meet legal and professional standards.
What Is Mental Capacity?
Imagine a friend who wears a T-shirt on a frosty morning and a heavy coat on a scorching afternoon. You’d naturally wonder if they really understood how to match their clothing to the weather. Mental capacity assessments work in a similar way — but for life’s far more important choices. They explore whether a person can truly understand, process, and decide about specific matters, such as managing finances, signing a will, or consenting to medical treatment.
Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, capacity is always decision-specific. A person may be perfectly able to make some decisions yet struggle with others.
Today, following case law (A Local Authority v JB [2021] UKSC 52), assessments are carried out using a functional-first approach:
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Functional test (first): Can the person
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Understand the relevant information?
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Retain it long enough to make a decision?
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Use or weigh it as part of their decision-making?
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Communicate their decision by any means?
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Diagnostic test (if required): If the person cannot do one or more of the above, is that inability caused by an impairment or disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain?
At Nellie Supports, our multidisciplinary team applies this framework with a person-centred and therapeutic approach. Each assessment is tailored to the specific decision in question and documented in a CPR Part 35-compliant report. The outcome is clear, reliable evidence — showing which decisions an individual can make independently and where extra support or safeguards may be needed.
Two Services, One Gold Standard
Every situation deserves the gold-standard evidence—but not every case requires the same depth of investigation. That’s why we offer two equally rigorous options, each designed for a different level of risk.
Mental Capacity Assessment
Advanced Mental Capacity Assessment
Our flagship one-visit service for straightforward, decision-specific matters such as routine wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, property transactions or day-to-day health-and-welfare choices. A registered assessor applies the MCA 2005 two-stage test, adding a MoCA cognitive screen whenever helpful. You receive a clear, CPR 35-compliant report within 5–10 working days—fast, court-ready, and accepted by solicitors nationwide.
Our Mental Capacity Assessments start at just £496.00
Built on the same gold-standard foundations but engineered for higher-risk, contested or high-value scenarios—large estates, family conflict, suspected undue influence or rapid cognitive change. After a brief phone triage, we complete targeted psychometric tests at Visit 1 and the formal capacity interview at Visit 2. The result is a CPR 35-compliant report plus a plain-English Psychometric Summary that quantifies cognitive, emotional and vulnerability factors—extra armour when a decision may be challenged.
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. |
Cost | £496.00 | £995.00 |
Why Choose Nellie Supports?
Assessments start from £495 + VAT (+ travel), with clear costs agreed upfront.
Reports delivered within 5–10 working days, helping you register LPAs without delay.
Every assessment follows the Mental Capacity Act 2005 functional-first test, ensuring legal compliance and reliability.
Our assessors include independent social workers, psychologists, and other qualified professionals — matched to the needs of each case.
All reports are delivered in a CPR Part 35–compliant format, trusted by solicitors, the Office of the Public Guardian, and the courts.
Our Mental Capacity Assessment Process — clear, caring, and court-ready
Initial enquiry & triage
Contact us by phone, email or using our website form. A senior coordinator responds the same working day to confirm the decision that needs assessing, provide a clear quotation (including VAT and mileage if applicable), and arrange a convenient assessment time.
Assessment Appointment
A qualified assessor meets the individual—at home, in hospital, or via secure video—to carry out the assessment. The conversation is gentle and decision-specific. If helpful, cognitive screening tools (such as the MoCA) may be used to support clinical insight.
Report Writing
The assessor prepares a clear, CPR Part 35-compliant report that links all findings to the relevant legal framework (e.g., Mental Capacity Act 2005, Care Act 2014). Every report is peer-reviewed by a second professional to ensure quality, neutrality and legal readiness.
Report Delivery
You receive the report securely within 5–10 working days. Minor amendments are free within 14 days, and your assessor remains available to clarify the findings with legal teams, courts or healthcare professionals if required.
Need Advice?
Not sure about the specific decision you need assessing? Contact us to speak to our client liason team the same working day. We’re here to help you find the right support.
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Why Choose Nellie Supports?
Choosing the right professionals to assess mental capacity is vital. At Nellie Supports, we combine expertise, empathy, and efficiency to make the process as smooth as possible. Our multidisciplinary team includes registered social workers, nurses, and specialists who bring decades of combined experience in capacity law and practice. Every assessment is conducted with compassion and clarity, always tailored to the person’s unique circumstances.
Experience peace of mind with our comprehensive social work services at Nellie Supports. Our team of registered and experienced professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional care and support. From mental capacity assessments to a wide range of social work services—such as EHCP appeals, life expectancy reports, and ongoing consultancy—our experts ensure accurate evaluations, personalised guidance, and the highest standards of practice.
We understand how important these decisions are, whether you’re planning for the future or responding to urgent legal requirements. That’s why our reports are consistently prepared to the highest standards, fully compliant with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and accepted by courts and solicitors across England and Wales.
With a 4.9-star rating from clients nationwide, prompt response times, and a commitment to clear communication at every step, Nellie Supports is trusted by families, deputies, and professionals alike.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US
Nellie Supports
Expert Insights into Mental Capacity
Reports
Explore our articles on Mental Capacity Assessments, covering common challenges, practical guidance, and expert insights for families, solicitors, and deputies navigating decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
