Okuzeka
Social Work vocabulary · Adults and Vulnerable Groups

Mental capacity

Meaning in social work, with examples

nounCommon term

In social work, mental capacity means: A person's ability to understand, remember and weigh up information about a particular decision and to communicate their choice.

In Turkish: karar verme yeterliliği, zihinsel yeterlilik, ayırt etme gücü

How it is used

In England and Wales the Mental Capacity Act 2005 says capacity must be assumed unless shown otherwise and is decision-specific: someone may manage daily shopping but not a complex financial decision. Workers carry out and record capacity assessments.

Example sentences

  1. We need to assess whether she has the mental capacity to decide where to live.

  2. A diagnosis of dementia does not automatically mean a person lacks mental capacity.

Common collocations

  • lack mental capacity
  • assess mental capacity
  • capacity assessment
  • Mental Capacity Act
  • best interestsWhat is best for a person, taking into account their wishes, feelings, beliefs and circumstances, when a decision has to be made for them.
  • informed consentPermission given by a person who understands what they are agreeing to, including the purpose, risks, alternatives and their right to say no.
  • self-determinationA person's right to make their own choices and decisions about their life, even when others might disagree with them.
  • adult social carePractical and personal support for adults who need help because of age, illness or disability, such as home care, day centres and care homes.

More terms: Adults and Vulnerable Groups

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