Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity

Author:
GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health and Social Care
Publisher:
Great Britain. Department of Health and Social Care
Publication year:
2020
Place of publication:
London

Brings together emergency guidance for health and social care staff in England and Wales who are caring for, or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance ensures that decision makers are clear about the steps they need to take during this period. It focuses on new scenarios and potential ‘deprivations of liberty’ created by the outbreak. During the outbreak, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the safeguards provided by the deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) still apply. The MCA provides protection for people who lack or may lack the relevant mental capacity to make decisions about different aspects of their life. The DoLS are an important part of this act and provide further safeguards for those who need to be deprived of their liberty in order to receive care or treatment in a care home or hospital, but do not have the capacity to consent to those arrangements. [Published 9 April 2020. Last updated 27 April 2021] (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
Covid-19, social care staff, care workers, mental capacity, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards;
Content types:
practice guidance, government publication
Location(s):
England, Wales
Link:
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