The MCA was the first Act of Parliament to be built upon a set of principles – firm foundations to underpin the ethos of empowering and yet protecting people within a decision making framework.
The radical change in the starting point - where capacity is presumed unless shown otherwise - has promoted the independence and involvement of more people in their own affairs, and for a much longer period of time, and to a considerably greater extent. There is still much to learn and to implement, not least in how this should impact on the day to day reality for individuals with impaired capacity - especially with institutions whose systems are geared towards a ‘yes or no’ approach rather than a more nuanced and individualised attitude.
At Anthony Collins Solicitors, our approach to clients for whom we act as Deputy seeks always to put the individual at the centre. We know it is often the ‘little things’ that make the biggest difference to a person’s life and sense of being valued. We recognise that a diagnosis which impacts on the ability to understand will affect each person in a unique way – and that no two people and no two expressions of an illness or injury are the same.
With this in mind, we decided to round off our celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the MCA in our own way. Rather than simply offer a retrospective for fellow professionals, looking at how the law has developed, we decided to concentrate on our clients – those with whom we walk daily, aiming to make a difference.
So what better way to celebrate than with a party? Tea, cake, magic, balloons and good company were the order of the day, and we were delighted to welcome over 50 people – clients and their supporters, carers, family and friends - to our tea party.
It was a truly memorable day with moments that will make us – and hopefully our clients – smile well into the next 10 years.
We look forward to working with you, and the people who are important to you, where loss of or impaired capacity is an issue.
Please contact Donna Holmes.
[media id=1718]
Here at Anthony Collins Solicitors, we have been hard at work advising a charity client, BICMP, on its new music project, ‘Resonance’.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has recently made some noteworthy changes to its guidance around data subject access requests (DSARs).
In the fourth part of our series on contract management pitfalls, we look at the risks arising out of varying the terms of construction contracts.
A local authority recently received a "roasting" by the Pensions Ombudsman for their delay in processing an employee’s ill-health retirement pension, following her diagnosis with advanced cancer.
The Times is looking for three or four charities to feature in their editions running in December 2019 and early January 2020.
Cliff Mills defines and talks about the importance of social value in his blog, and its potential within Greater Manchester.
Following a power outage at Anthony Collins Solicitors’ (ACS) Birmingham office, our employees and partners currently have limited functionality, including no access to emails.
Joint ventures present an opportunity for housing associations to build organisational capacity, the revenues from which could help deliver on wider social housing commitments.
Residents are now unable to make applications to prohibit landlords from seeking to recover the cost of legal proceedings through the service charge on behalf of other residents, without consent.
Natalie Barbosa summarises some of the legal challenges facing fundraisers in the charity sector.
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.