Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) helps people in England and Wales to stay in control of decisions about their health and finance and make important decisions for others who cannot decide for themselves.

We do this by:

- helping people plan for someone to make decisions for them, should they become unable to do so because they do not have mental capacity
- supporting people to make decisions for those that do not have the ability to decide for themselves

We carry out the legal functions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017.

Our responsibilities--We’re responsible for:

- taking action where there are concerns about an attorney, deputy or guardian
registering lasting and enduring powers of attorney, so that people can choose who they want to make decisions for them
- maintaining the registers of attorneys, deputies and guardians
- supervising deputies and guardians appointed by the courts, and making sure they carry out their legal duties
- looking into reports of abuse against registered attorneys, deputies or guardians

Works alongside the Court of Protection and hold a register of Lasting Power of Attorneys, Enduring Power of Attorneys and deputies, being responsible for the supervision of those within these roles. The Office of the Public Guardian is responsible for protecting individuals under the Mental Capacity Act from abuse.