Independence, freedom and an individual’s basic rights are championed in the Mental Capacity Act, (MCA), and these principals are fundamental to the way Kisharon delivers care and support.
The Care Quality Commission, (CQC), and other regulators now attach more importance to the rights enshrined in the MCA than ever before, and Kisharon has reviewed and updated its own policy for staff in line with this.
Examples of MCA best practice are now available online within the care community and research is taking place to examine whether it has enabled more people with impaired mental capacity to live full and independent lives.
Its cornerstone is the principle that every adult has the capacity to make their own decisions – even if these decisions are considered eccentric. Even choices regarded as unwise must not become the sole reason to claim the individual concerned lacks capacity. Staff acting for those who do lack capacity must opt for the path that is least restrictive of their rights and freedoms.
The MCA is fundamental to the way Kisharon supports people. Employees in support roles put its guidelines into practice every day, and all staff and volunteers are expected to be familiar with its requirements, which are essential to their work.
Lee Zucker, HR Manager, said: “In short, the requirements of the MCA are to behave towards people in the way we would all hope people would behave to us throughout our lives.”
PHOTO: Jessica Nesbitt has embraced independence since moving into a supported living apartment in February this year. She cooks, cleans and does her washing, with support from staff.
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