Alex Ruck Keene KC and colleagues from 39 Essex Chambers, a leading set of barristers’ chambers, have published two new Mental Capacity Act (MCA) guidance notes:

• Mental Capacity Guidance Note: Best Interests
• Mental Capacity Guidance Note: Assessment and Recording of Capacity

These documents provide an overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of capacity for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings. The focus is on how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing capacity; and how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions.