Capacity Complexities
Enhance your confidence in determining decision-making ability and assessing capacity under the MCA 2005.
Interactive & empowering
This one-day interactive online course offers those attending from adult services the opportunity to enhance their confidence in determining someone’s ability to make various decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
It includes decisions around financial affairs, care and support, accommodation, and safeguarding. We focus on complex issues such as fluctuating capacity and executive functioning concerns.
“Capacity assessment is where law meets the person. Get it right and you protect autonomy. Get it wrong and you silence it.”
What you’ll
master
One day. Five modules. Everything you need to tackle the hardest capacity questions with confidence and legal clarity.
MCA Principles & Empowerment
A focus on the first three empowerment principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 — the foundation that should shape every assessment you carry out.
Information & Assessment
Identifying the information relevant to different decisions — financial affairs, care and support, accommodation, and safeguarding — and how to assess and determine someone’s decision-making capacity.
The 5 Statutory Abilities
Focusing on the abilities to understand, retain, use and weigh information, and communicate the decision. What each ability requires in practice and how courts have interpreted them.
Complex Capacity Issues
How to address the hardest questions: fluctuating capacity, concerns around executive functioning and insight, and the interplay between impairment and decision-making ability.
Reflection & Practice
Providing points for reflection to embed the learning into everyday practice. Real-world scenarios discussed in small-group breakout sessions.
What you’ll receive
Course Slides
Full presentation pack and downloadable materials
Attendance Certificate
6-hour certificate for CPD purposes on completion
Interactive Sessions
Plenary and small-group breakout sessions with peers
Live Q&A
Your questions answered directly by Neil during the live session
You’ll leave with
confidence
Not just knowledge — practical tools and legal clarity you can apply to your next capacity assessment.
Legal principles in practice
An awareness of the MCA principles and how they work in the real situations you face every day
Robust assessments
Improved confidence in evidencing mental capacity assessments that stand up to scrutiny
Complex issue mastery
Strategies for fluctuating capacity, executive functioning concerns, and the hardest diagnostic questions
Embedded learning
Reflection points and practice tools that inform your future work and empower professional challenge
Hear from past attendees
“Neil was amazing, thought provoking and has changed my view and how I will practice.”
Course Delegate
“Some of the best training that I have ever attended.”
Course Delegate
“A seminar by the very best in the business.”
Course Delegate
“The most informative and exciting learning event I have attended in many years.”
Course Delegate
“Neil was amazing, thought provoking and has changed my view and how I will practice.”
Course Delegate
“Some of the best training that I have ever attended.”
Course Delegate
“A seminar by the very best in the business.”
Course Delegate
“The most informative and exciting learning event I have attended in many years.”
Course Delegate
Find a date
Individual delegates can book directly via Eventbrite.
Organisations — email Neil to arrange a date for your team.
Three ways to book
Organisations
Open Course
For local authorities & NHS trusts
- Up to 30 delegates (extras by agreement)
- Standard curriculum
- Invoice & PO accepted
Organisations
Exclusive Course
Reserved for your organisation
- Up to 100 delegates
- Tailored content available
- Flexible dates
- Invoice & PO accepted
Individuals
Single Delegate
Join a scheduled session
- Instant confirmation
- Secure payment
- Attendance certificate
Neil Allen
Barrister at 39 Essex Chambers and Founder of LPS Law Ltd. Consistently recognised in the global rankings of the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading Barrister in the Court of Protection, for which he was shortlisted as Barrister of the Year.
A rare combination of courtroom rigour and classroom clarity. Neil’s courses are built on real cases and real dilemmas — not abstract theory. As a Former University Senior Lecturer and published author, he brings two decades of specialist practice to every session.
Before you book
Social workers, Best Interests Assessors, occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists, and anyone involved in assessing mental capacity under the MCA 2005 in adult services.
Via Zoom, one full day. Interactive plenary presentations combined with small-group breakout sessions for discussion and practice scenarios.
The MCA principles, identifying decision-specific information, the five statutory abilities, complex issues such as fluctuating capacity and executive functioning, and reflection points for embedding the learning into practice.
Yes. Every delegate receives a downloadable 6-hour attendance certificate on completion, issued by Neil Allen of 39 Essex Chambers.
Email training@lpslaw.co.uk with your preferred dates and team size. Invoicing and purchase orders accepted. Individual delegates book via Eventbrite.
Secure your place
Whether it’s your team or just you — spaces fill quickly.
Capacity Complexities
From £125 inc VAT · 1 day · Via Zoom