Introducing the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in education and developing young people’s decision-making ability: Exploring the issues for educational psychologists

It introduces the MCA principles, including concepts and language, defines capacity and to lack capacity, and discusses when and how to undertake capacity assessments, including an EP’s role in relation to undertaking a capacity assessment on behalf of another education professional.

Participation in the workshop will help EPs become secure in their knowledge of the MCA principles and processes to assist integrating this into everyday practice, which is fundamental when working with young people aged 16 – 25 years. It will enable EPs to provide MCA training to other education professionals as well as working in partnership with education professionals and parents to enable children and young people to make their own decisions.