SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 9Amendments relating to new section 4A of, & Schedule A1 to, Mental Capacity Act 2005

Part 1Other amendments to Mental Capacity Act 2005

Introduction

1

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9) is amended as set out in this Part of this Schedule.

New section 21A

2

F1After section 21 insert—

Powers of the court in relation to Schedule A1

21APowers of court in relation to Schedule A1

1

This section applies if either of the following has been given under Schedule A1—

a

a standard authorisation;

b

an urgent authorisation.

2

Where a standard authorisation has been given, the court may determine any question relating to any of the following matters—

a

whether the relevant person meets one or more of the qualifying requirements;

b

the period during which the standard authorisation is to be in force;

c

the purpose for which the standard authorisation is given;

d

the conditions subject to which the standard authorisation is given.

3

If the court determines any question under subsection (2), the court may make an order—

a

varying or terminating the standard authorisation, or

b

directing the supervisory body to vary or terminate the standard authorisation.

4

Where an urgent authorisation has been given, the court may determine any question relating to any of the following matters—

a

whether the urgent authorisation should have been given;

b

the period during which the urgent authorisation is to be in force;

c

the purpose for which the urgent authorisation is given.

5

Where the court determines any question under subsection (4), the court may make an order—

a

varying or terminating the urgent authorisation, or

b

directing the managing authority of the relevant hospital or care home to vary or terminate the urgent authorisation.

6

Where the court makes an order under subsection (3) or (5), the court may make an order about a person's liability for any act done in connection with the standard or urgent authorisation before its variation or termination.

7

An order under subsection (6) may, in particular, exclude a person from liability.

Section 35: Appointment of independent mental capacity advocates

3

In section 35, in subsection (1) after “relate” insert “ or persons who fall within section 39A, 39C or 39D ”.

Section 38: IMCAs and provision of accommodation by NHS body

4

1

Section 38 is amended as follows.

2

After subsection (2) insert—

2A

And this section does not apply if—

a

an independent mental capacity advocate must be appointed under section 39A or 39C (whether or not by the NHS body) to represent P, and

b

the hospital or care home in which P is to be accommodated under the arrangements referred to in this section is the relevant hospital or care home under the authorisation referred to in that section.

3

After subsection (9) insert—

10

For the purposes of subsection (1), a person appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1 to be P's representative is not, by virtue of that appointment, engaged in providing care or treatment for P in a professional capacity or for remuneration.

Section 39: IMCAs and provision of accommodation by local authority

5

1

Section 39 is amended as follows.

2

After subsection (3) insert—

3A

And this section does not apply if—

a

an independent mental capacity advocate must be appointed under section 39A or 39C (whether or not by the local authority) to represent P, and

b

the place in which P is to be accommodated under the arrangements referred to in this section is the relevant hospital or care home under the authorisation referred to in that section.

3

F2After subsection (6) insert—

7

For the purposes of subsection (1), a person appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1 to be P's representative is not, by virtue of that appointment, engaged in providing care or treatment for P in a professional capacity or for remuneration.

New section 39A

6

F3After section 39 insert—

39APerson becomes subject to Schedule A1

1

This section applies if—

a

a person (“P”) becomes subject to Schedule A1, and

b

the managing authority of the relevant hospital or care home are satisfied that there is no person, other than one engaged in providing care or treatment for P in a professional capacity or for remuneration, whom it would be appropriate to consult in determining what would be in P's best interests.

2

The managing authority must notify the supervisory body that this section applies.

3

The supervisory body must instruct an independent mental capacity advocate to represent P.

4

Schedule A1 makes provision about the role of an independent mental capacity advocate appointed under this section.

5

This section is subject to paragraph 161 of Schedule A1.

6

For the purposes of subsection (1), a person appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1 to be P's representative is not, by virtue of that appointment, engaged in providing care or treatment for P in a professional capacity or for remuneration.

39BSection 39A: supplementary provision

1

This section applies for the purposes of section 39A.

2

P becomes subject to Schedule A1 in any of the following cases.

3

The first case is where an urgent authorisation is given in relation to P under paragraph 76(2) of Schedule A1 (urgent authorisation given before request made for standard authorisation).

4

The second case is where the following conditions are met.

5

The first condition is that a request is made under Schedule A1 for a standard authorisation to be given in relation to P (“the requested authorisation”).

6

The second condition is that no urgent authorisation was given under paragraph 76(2) of Schedule A1 before that request was made.

7

The third condition is that the requested authorisation will not be in force on or before, or immediately after, the expiry of an existing standard authorisation.

8

The expiry of a standard authorisation is the date when the authorisation is expected to cease to be in force.

9

The third case is where, under paragraph 69 of Schedule A1, the supervisory body select a person to carry out an assessment of whether or not the relevant person is a detained resident.

39CPerson unrepresented whilst subject to Schedule A1

1

This section applies if—

a

an authorisation under Schedule A1 is in force in relation to a person (“P”),

b

the appointment of a person as P's representative ends in accordance with regulations made under Part 10 of Schedule A1, and

c

the managing authority of the relevant hospital or care home are satisfied that there is no person, other than one engaged in providing care or treatment for P in a professional capacity or for remuneration, whom it would be appropriate to consult in determining what would be in P's best interests.

2

The managing authority must notify the supervisory body that this section applies.

3

The supervisory body must instruct an independent mental capacity advocate to represent P.

4

Paragraph 159 of Schedule A1 makes provision about the role of an independent mental capacity advocate appointed under this section.

5

The appointment of an independent mental capacity advocate under this section ends when a new appointment of a person as P's representative is made in accordance with Part 10 of Schedule A1.

6

For the purposes of subsection (1), a person appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1 to be P's representative is not, by virtue of that appointment, engaged in providing care or treatment for P in a professional capacity or for remuneration.

39DPerson subject to Schedule A1 without paid representative

1

This section applies if—

a

an authorisation under Schedule A1 is in force in relation to a person (“P”),

b

P has a representative (“R”) appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1, and

c

R is not being paid under regulations under Part 10 of Schedule A1 for acting as P's representative.

2

The supervisory body must instruct an independent mental capacity advocate to represent P in any of the following cases.

3

The first case is where P makes a request to the supervisory body to instruct an advocate.

4

The second case is where R makes a request to the supervisory body to instruct an advocate.

5

The third case is where the supervisory body have reason to believe one or more of the following—

a

that, without the help of an advocate, P and R would be unable to exercise one or both of the relevant rights;

b

that P and R have each failed to exercise a relevant right when it would have been reasonable to exercise it;

c

that P and R are each unlikely to exercise a relevant right when it would be reasonable to exercise it.

6

The duty in subsection (2) is subject to section 39E.

7

If an advocate is appointed under this section, the advocate is, in particular, to take such steps as are practicable to help P and R to understand the following matters—

a

the effect of the authorisation;

b

the purpose of the authorisation;

c

the duration of the authorisation;

d

any conditions to which the authorisation is subject;

e

the reasons why each assessor who carried out an assessment in connection with the request for the authorisation, or in connection with a review of the authorisation, decided that P met the qualifying requirement in question;

f

the relevant rights;

g

how to exercise the relevant rights.

8

The advocate is, in particular, to take such steps as are practicable to help P or R—

a

to exercise the right to apply to court, if it appears to the advocate that P or R wishes to exercise that right, or

b

to exercise the right of review, if it appears to the advocate that P or R wishes to exercise that right.

9

If the advocate helps P or R to exercise the right of review—

a

the advocate may make submissions to the supervisory body on the question of whether a qualifying requirement is reviewable;

b

the advocate may give information, or make submissions, to any assessor carrying out a review assessment.

10

In this section—

  • relevant rights” means—

    1. a

      the right to apply to court, and

    2. b

      the right of review;

  • right to apply to court” means the right to make an application to the court to exercise its jurisdiction under section 21A;

  • right of review” means the right under Part 8 of Schedule A1 to request a review.

39ELimitation on duty to instruct advocate under section 39D

1

This section applies if an advocate is already representing P in accordance with an instruction under section 39D.

2

Section 39D(2) does not require another advocate to be instructed, unless the following conditions are met.

3

The first condition is that the existing advocate was instructed—

a

because of a request by R, or

b

because the supervisory body had reason to believe one or more of the things in section 39D(5).

4

The second condition is that the other advocate would be instructed because of a request by P.

Section 40: Exceptions to duty to appoint IMCAs

7

1

Section 40 (as substituted by section 49 of this Act) is amended as follows.

2

The provision of section 40 becomes subsection (1) of section 40.

3

F4In subsection (1) for “or 39(4) or (5)” substitute “ , 39(4) or (5), 39A(3), 39C(3) or 39D(2) ”.

4

F4After subsection (1) insert—

2

A person appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1 to be P's representative is not, by virtue of that appointment, a person nominated by P as a person to be consulted in matters to which a duty mentioned in subsection (1) relates.

Section 42: Codes of practice

8

F51

Section 42 is amended as follows.

2

In subsection (1), after paragraph (f) insert—

fa

for the guidance of persons exercising functions under Schedule A1,

fb

for the guidance of representatives appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1,

3

In subsection (4), after paragraph (d) insert—

da

in the exercise of functions under Schedule A1,

db

as a representative appointed under Part 10 of Schedule A1,

Section 50: Application to the Court of Protection

9

F6In section 50, after subsection (1) insert—

1A

Nor is permission required for an application to the court under section 21A by the relevant person's representative.

Section 64: Interpretation

10

1

Section 64 is amended as follows.

2

F7In subsection (1), insert at the appropriate place—

authorisation under Schedule A1” means either—

a

a standard authorisation under that Schedule, or

b

an urgent authorisation under that Schedule.

3

F7In subsection (1), in the definition of “local authority” after “ “local authority”” insert “ , except in Schedule A1, ”.

4

After subsection (4) insert—

5

In this Act, references to deprivation of a person's liberty have the same meaning as in Article 5(1) of the Human Rights Convention.

6

For the purposes of such references, it does not matter whether a person is deprived of his liberty by a public authority or not.

Section 65: Rules, regulations and orders

11

F81

Section 65 is amended as follows.

2

After subsection (4) insert—

4A

Subsection (2) does not apply to a statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under Schedule A1.

4B

If such a statutory instrument contains regulations under paragraph 42(2)(b), 129, 162 or 164 of Schedule A1 (whether or not it also contains other regulations), the instrument may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

4C

Subject to that, such a statutory instrument is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.