From Mental Health Law Online
The full text of the Act is available here: Mental Capacity Act 2005. See also: Mental Capacity Act 2005 Explanatory Notes.
This overview page contains links to useful resources on the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which came into force on 1/10/07.
Contents |
The provisions of the Act
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 provisions:
- Advance decision
- Court of Protection
- Court of Protection Guidance: Applications to the Court of Protection in relation to tenancy agreements
- Court of Protection Practice Directions
- Court of Protection forms
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Enduring Power of Attorney
- Guidance in cases involving protected parties in which the Official Solicitor is being invited to act as guardian ad litem or litigation friend
- Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service
- Lasting Power of Attorney
- MCA Update emails
- Office of the Public Guardian
- Official Solicitor
- Practice Guidance: Committal for Contempt of Court (2013) EWHC B4 (COP)
See also:
- Bournewood gap bridged by Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards inserted into MCA 2005 (April 2009) - The Mental Health Act 2007 has made amendments to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which are expected to come into force in April 2009. See also the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards supplement.
Secondary legislation
Commencement orders
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 commencement orders:
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Commencement) (Wales) Order 2007 — SI 856/2007 is the third commencement order under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Commencement No.1) (Amendment) Order 2006 — This commencement order relates to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Commencement No.1) (England and Wales) Order 2007 — SI 563/2007 is the second commencement order under the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Commencement No.1) Order 2006 — SI 2006/2814 is the first commencement order under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Commencement No.2) Order 2007 — SI 1897/2007 is the fourth commencement order under the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Mental Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2007 — Official explanatory note: "This Order is the second commencement order made under the Mental Health Act 2007 and brings into force section 51 of that Act in relation to England and Wales. Section 51 makes a minor amendment to MCA 2005 s20(11)(a). It replaces the word “or” with “and”." In force 1/10/07.
The Act came fully into force on 1/10/07 (see Mental Capacity Act 2005 in-force dates for detail).
Deprivation of Liberty
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 secondary legislation - DOLS:
- Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009 (Commencement No 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order of Council 2009 — Yes, that is the real name. Among other over-complicated things, transitional arrangements relating to psychologist AMHPs and BIAs come into force on 1/7/09. Until 30/6/12, they can either be chartered psychologists (registered by the BPS) or psychologists registered by the HPC. It is expected that before the end of the transitional period the legislation will be amended to refer only to those registered by the HPC.
- Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person's Representative) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 — In force 3/11/08.
- Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person's Representative) (Wales) Regulations 2009 — In force 1/4/09 (subject to annulment).
- Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person's Representative) Regulations 2008 — In force 3/11/08.
- Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Assessments, Standard Authorisations and Disputes about Residence) (Wales) Regulations 2009 — In force 1/4/09 (subject to approval).
- Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Monitoring and Reporting; and Assessments - Amendment) Regulations 2009 — In force 1/4/09, subject to approval by resolution of each House of Parliament. Relates to (1) the role of the Care Quality Commission in monitoring schedule A1 and (2) two amendments relating to (a) insurance/indemnity of assessors, and (b) recovery of expenditure between local authorities.
- Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisations, Assessments and Ordinary Residence) Regulations 2008 — In force 3/11/08.
- Mental Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 10 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2009 — In force 1/4/09. This order brings into force the provisions in relation to IMHAs for England (they are already in force in Wales). It also commences the deprivation of liberty safeguards, and introduces transitional provisions: provided the applications are received on or before 30/4/09, 42 days (instead of 21) are allowed for completing assessments for a standard authorisation, and urgent authorisations last for 21 days (instead of 7); urgent authorisations given on or before 30/4/09 cannot be extended.
- NHS Bodies and Local Authorities Partnership Arrangements (Amendment) Regulations 2009 — These Regulations amend the NHS Bodies and Local Authorities Partnership Arrangements Regulations 2000 to include Schedule A1 to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) as a function of NHS Bodies. This will enable primary care trusts to enter into formal partnership arrangements with local authorities. In force 1/4/09, immediately after the coming into force of the Mental Health Act 1983 (Independent Mental Health Advocates) (England) Regulations 2008
See also: Welsh Assembly Government response to consultation on the draft regulations relating to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 - February 2009
IMCA
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 secondary legislation - IMCA:
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Independent Mental Capacity Advocates) (Expansion of Role) Regulations 2006 — SI 2006/2883 affects MCA 2005 s35.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Independent Mental Capacity Advocates) (General) Regulations 2006 — These Regulations came into force (a) for the purpose of enabling the Secretary of State to make arrangements under section 35 of the Act, and for the purpose of enabling local authorities to approve IMCAs, on 1st November 2006, and (b) for all other purposes, on 1st April 2007.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Independent Mental Capacity Advocates) (Wales) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Mental Health and Mental Capacity (Advocacy) Amendment (England) Regulations 2009 — These Regulations confirm that the activities of IMCAs and IMHAs are "regulated activities" for the purposes of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, and require them to have an enhanced criminal record certificate from 12/10/09. In force 12/10/09.
Research
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 secondary legislation - Research:
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 — In force 31/1/07. Amends the commencement dates of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (England) Regulations 2006 to 1/7/07 (from 1/2/07) and 1/10/07 (from 1/4/07) respectively.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (England) Amendment Regulations 2011 — These Regulations amend the definition of 'appropriate body' (i.e. a body which can approve certain research) in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (England) Regulations 2006 to clarify that, in the definition of an appropriate body, a committee recognised by the Secretary of State means a committee recognised by the Secretary of State in exercise of his powers in section 2 of the National Health Service Act 2006. See Explanatory Memorandum for background. In force 1/12/11.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (England) Regulations 2006 — In force.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (Wales) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/7/07 and 1/10/07.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Loss of Capacity during Research Project) (England) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/7/07 and 1/10/07.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Loss of Capacity during Research Project) (Wales) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/7/07 and 1/10/07.
Public Guardian and Court of Protection
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 secondary legislation - Public Guardian and Court of Protection:
- COP Practice Direction: Preparation of Bundles — The draft Practice Direction has been amended and is now Practice Direction 13B: Court Bundles. It applies to all Court of Protection hearings from 1/5/12. See Court of Protection Practice Directions for others.
- Court of Protection (Amendment) Rules 2009 — These Rules amend the Court of Protection Rules 2007 by amending rules (rules 6 and 51), adding rules (rule 82A), and adding a Practice Direction (PD 10A) for the new deprivation of liberty jurisdiction. In force 1/4/09.
- Court of Protection (Amendment) Rules 2011 — These Rules add rule 7A to the Court of Protection Rules 2007 to enable the Senior Judge or the President to authorise a court officer to exercise the jurisdiction of the court in such circumstances as set out in the relevant practice direction. Such a court officer: (a) must refer to a judge any application, proceedings or any question arising in any application or proceedings which ought, in the officer’s opinion, to be considered by a judge; (b) may not deal with any application or proceedings or any question arising in any application or proceedings by way of a hearing; and (c) may not deal with an application for the reconsideration of an order made by that court officer or another court officer. In force 12/12/11.
- Court of Protection Fees (Amendment) Order 2009 — This Order amends the Court of Protection Fees Order 2007, which set out the fees to be charged for matters coming to the Court of Protection, by abolishing the fee for a certified copy of a document and providing for an additional circumstance under which fees may be exempted (i.e. if the relevant person is in receipt of income-related employment and support allowance). In force 1/4/09.
- Court of Protection Fees Order 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Court of Protection Rules 2007 — Rules for Court of Protection. In force 1/10/07.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian (Amendment) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian (Amendment) Regulations 2009 — These Regulations contain redesigned LPA forms. In force 1/10/09.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian (Amendment) Regulations 2013/506 — These regulations amend Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007. (1) Regulation 3 substitutes a period of 4 weeks for the existing 6 week period that must elapse between the date of the latest notice by which the Public Guardian notifies the donor or donees (as appropriate) of a lasting power of attorney that an application to register has been received, and the date on which the LPA is registered. (2) Regulations 4 and 5 substitute a 3 week period for a 5 week period during which a donee or donor of the power, or a named person, must give notice of objection to registration to the Public Guardian. (3) Regulation 6 substitutes a period of 3 weeks for the current 5 week period in which a person who wishes to make an application to the court objecting to registration must do so. (4) Regulation 8 introduces a new basis on which a security given by a deputy to the Public Guardian in respect of the discharge of his or her functions ..→
- Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007 — In force 1/10/07. Amended by Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian (Amendment) Regulations 2013 from 1/4/13.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Transfer Of Proceedings) Order 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Public Guardian (Fees, etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Public Guardian (Fees, etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 — These Regulations, in amending the Public Guardian (Fees, etc) Regulations 2007, amend the fees to be charged for the services provided by the Public Guardian: the LPA fee is reduced from £150 to £120; a new fee for EPA and LPA office copies is introduced; the Deputy Assessment fee is reduced to £100; the Deputy Supervision fees remain, with an additional level of supervision Type IIA attracting a £350pa fee.
- Public Guardian (Fees, etc) Regulations 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
- Public Guardian (Fees, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 — These regulations, amongst other changes, increase the LPA/EPA registration fee from £120 to £130. See Explanatory Notes for details. In force 1/10/11.
- Public Guardian Board Regulations 2007 — In force 1/10/07.
Other
The following is an automatically-generated list of the pages in Category:Mental Capacity Act 2005 secondary legislation - Other:
- Lord Chancellor (Transfer of Functions and Supplementary Provisions) (No.2) Order 2006 — SI 2006/1016 amends MCA 2005 s21, MCA 2005 s45, MCA 2005 s46, MCA 2005 s51, MCA 2005 s52, MCA 2005 s59, and MCA 2005 s65. In force 3 April 2006.
Legislation updates
For legislation updates, see:
Government bodies
The following state bodies are responsible for implementing the Act:
- Mental Capacity page. This contains links to the following three pages, which are updated fairly regularly:
- OPG website - This well-structured website contains the following sections: About the Public Guardian, Making arrangements for yourself, I have concerns for another person, Making decisions for someone else, Mental Capacity Act and Forms and booklets.
See also:
Training materials
- Mental Capacity Act 2005: training materials - "During May 2007 the Department of Health, in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), is publishing five sets of training materials to support the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005." (DH)
Summaries and updates
In addition to the official Mental Capacity Act 2005 Explanatory Notes, the following may be useful:
- Summary of the Act (DCA)
- Easy-read summary (DCA)
- MCA Update newsletter - published regularly by the Office of the Public Guardian.
- Edition 22 - July 2009
Other external links
- GMC: Guidance for doctors: Treatment and care towards the end of life: Good practice in decision making - published 20/5/10 - in force 1/7/10
- Mental Health Foundation, 'Mental Capacity and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 - A literature review' (August 2012). Their summary: 'This literature review was carried out to collate academic literature relating to mental capacity issues and to the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Mental capacity is the ability to make one’s own decisions. The Mental Capacity Act (MCA), which came into force in 2007 and covers England and Wales, provides a statutory framework for supporting people to make decisions for themselves wherever possible as well as processes and safeguards for decision-making involving people who lack capacity to make their own decisions because of illness, injury or disability. This review has collated a broad range of literature investigating various issues relating to mental capacity and the implementation of the MCA with the aim of identifying consistent themes, problem areas and any gaps in the existing literature. The largest proportion of literature relating to the MCA in England and Wales relates more specifically to issues with older people and people who have dementia.'
Related books
Richard Jones, Mental Capacity Act Manual (5th edn, Sweet & Maxwell 2012)


