Assessing mental capacity: A checklist for social workers

Social workers, whether working with people with learning difficulties or with older people, are often required to make judgements regarding an individual's capacity to make decisions. This article explores the legal basis upon which such judgements should be based and the implications for the individual and for the worker of finding of capacity or otherwise. The material is presented in the form of a checklist, supported by discussion of the issues that should be taken into account when assessing capacity; these cover not only cognitive factors, but address also the importance of social history, the environment and interpersonal skills