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This newsletter is brought to you by the Strategic Partnership Boards, which is made up of Waltham Forest Safeguarding Children’s Board, Safeguarding Adults Board, Health & Wellbeing Board and SafetyNet (our Community Safety Partnership).
It’s aimed at everyone working with children and adults in Waltham Forest. Please share with your colleagues and encourage them to sign up to get it regularly.
Mental capacity is the ability to make a decision, whether it is an everyday decision such as what to wear, or a more important decision such as where to live.
People who cannot make a decision for themselves, are said to 'lack capacity'.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) protects and supports people who do not have the ability to make decisions for themselves. It also provides guidance to support people who need to make decisions on behalf of someone else.
The MCA sets out how decisions should be made when an individual is unable to make a decision because of the way their brain works, whether temporarily or permanently. This could be due to illness, brain injury, learning disability, mental health problems, or the effects of drugs or alcohol.
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On 21 December 2021, VoiceAbility began supporting vulnerable and elderly residents in Waltham Forest with having their views heard and rights respected. Their advocacy services are free, independent and confidential.
What is a Mental Capacity Advocacy Service?
Advocacy is free, independent support to help residents in making decisions about their health, care and wellbeing. Advocates don’t work for the council, the NHS, or care providers. There is no cost for an advocate.
An advocate can help residents do things for themselves and support them to make their own decisions. Advocates have the expertise to:
• Listen to what someone thinks is happening to them
• Help someone say what they do and don’t want
• Help someone understand information about a situation
• Explain their options
• Plan with them what to do next
To find out more about advocacy for a resident of Waltham Forest, or to make an
enquiry or referral, phone 0300 303 1660 or contact VoiceAbility on:
If you work with vulnerable or elderly adults in Waltham Forest, please take this survey to let us know how embedded Mental Capacity Guidance is across services and partnership organisations:
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Upcoming training and events - last few spaces available to book!
8 Feb 2022 at 9:30am - Managing Allegations Against People Working with Children
Also...
Become a substance misuse champion:
Change Grow Live (CGL), Waltham Forest's drug & alcohol treatment service, is looking for candidates to become Substance Misuse (SM) Champions.
If you have a real passion and interest in helping to improve the lives of those impacted by substance misuse and want to get involved in supporting new initiatives to improve treatment pathways, why not lend your experience and join the forum?
The SM champions meet on the first Monday of every month at 1.30pm for approximately an hour via Microsoft Teams.
For further information, email Tiana.Allen@cgl.org.uk or call 07780 172 824
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