4 Next steps
The next activity helps you to build on what you have learned about mental capacity during the course and gives you an opportunity to think ahead. It is divided into the three areas you considered in the previous activity: learning, personal life and professional development. You may wish to think about all three or choose the one that is most relevant. As you will have learned when you study mental capacity through legislation there are slight differences depending on the UK nation where you live or work. You are reminded to bear this in mind for your next steps.
Activity 5 Next steps
1. Learning: Many courses on mental capacity are available. Type ‘mental capacity training’ into a search engine and browse through the results, making notes if necessary. Look at what the courses cover (including which nations of the UK), who they are aimed at and whether they cost or are free of charge.
2. Your personal life: If you want to look at how a decline in mental capacity might affect you, type ‘mental capacity and how it affects me’ into a search engine.
3. Your professional development: If you are already working either as a volunteer or in a paid capacity in a social care setting, you may already have access to training on mental capacity. This course and your reflections this week may have given you further ideas about training that could be provided. You may want to show parts of this course to others or look into training that relates to mental capacity. Your agency should have a training area where you can find details of courses like this.
Future opportunities might include those offered for ‘named’ social workers (to be called ‘approved mental capacity professionals’ in the future). You may also wish to explore how mental capacity interacts with other pieces of legislation such as on mental health or care. If you do wish to develop your skills and knowledge in this way, discuss it in your place of work.
To finish this week take a look at this transcript in which a current practitioner discusses their thoughts about mental capacity. Take a note of the main issues they discuss.