Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

If an individual’s capacity to make a specific decision is in reasonable doubt, then it is a care professional’s responsibility to complete a Mental Capacity Assessment. This usually takes the form of a supported interview to assess whether an individual can understand, retain, weigh up and communicate a specific decision.

While any member of the public can carry out a Mental Capacity Assessment, for complex cases, it is advised to consult a healthcare professional and/or an independent assessor as appropriate. For more information, see our guide to the Mental Capacity Act, and notes on How Mental Capacity is Assessed.