title: "Capacity is key": investigating new legal provisions in England and Wales for adult safeguarding.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the views and experiences of local Safeguarding Adults Coordinators of the newly implemented Mental Capacity Act 2005. This legislation in England and Wales has both protection and empowerment as its dual goals. Fifteen Safeguarding Adults Coordinators (SACs) employed by local authorities in the London area were interviewed in 2008, and again 2 years later. A total of 12 SACs participated in the 2010 follow-up interviews. The findings are reported here, covering experiences and views on the implementation and uses of the Act. There was overwhelming support for the Act as enhancing people's rights to a life free from abuse, of providing a framework for the assessment of decision-making capacity, and of assisting practitioners in reducing risks and responding to abusive situations. Participants urged better publicity about the Act, more detailed guidance on the new offenses, and greater attention to the interactions with other government policy goals.
authors.affiliation: Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom. jill.manthorpe@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manthorpe
authors.forename: Kritika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samsi
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rapaport
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004739:England; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014852:Wales