mentalcapacityholdingbestinterestsmeetings.docVIP

Holding Best Interests Meetings. There should only be a best interests meeting if the person is considered to lack the capacity to make the decision in question (as recorded by the two-stage assessment of capacity). Purpose The meeting should be clear about the nature of the decision to be made. If the meeting is being called to make more than one decision, then each of the decisions should be clearly defined. There are some decisions that we are not entitled to take on behalf of someone else (known as excluded decisions). If the meeting has been called to discuss someone’s best interests in relation to any of these decisions, then it should not proceed. Chairing the meeting The person who has to implement the decision may be the person who calls the meeting. They may not, however, be the most appropriate person to Chair it as they may be required to contribute a lot of information to the meeting. It is likely to be more helpful if the person who chairs the meeting has both skills and experience in doing this. This is especially important, given that those attending the meeting may not have met together before, or may not be experienced in attending meetings (especially if family members are to attend). Timing of the meeting The meeting needs to be held at the time the decision needs to be made, while still allowing sufficient time for the decision to be acted upon. This means it should not be so far in advance that circumstances might have changed by the time the decision needs to be acted upon. If the decision can be delayed until the person has or regained capacity then that should happen. General principles Invite participants in good time and ensure they know who to contact if they are delayed cannot attend etc. Ensure that all relevant parties are invited including relatives and people involved in the informal care of the person, anyone with powers of attorney or a deputy, other professionals and the IMCA if appointed. Distribute the agen