Intimate Relationships & Mental Capacity
Training Workshop
What is the role of the professional to support adults to live their ‘good life’ including exercising their right to engage in personal and sexual relationships, when capacity may be a consideration? How can we practice with confidence when we are required to be involved in decision-making in relation to intimate areas of another person’s life?
A recent legal case A Local Authority vs JB suggested we have been asking the wrong questions, not only in a formal assessment of capacity, but in how we approach this area as a whole. This case requires us to shift our focus, to consider the right of individuals to enjoy sexual relationships alongside the possible need to protect. Striking the right balance requires sound knowledge, clear analysis, and accountable decision-making.
A recent legal case A Local Authority vs JB suggested we have been asking the wrong questions, not only in a formal assessment of capacity, but in how we approach this area as a whole. This case requires us to shift our focus, to consider the right of individuals to enjoy sexual relationships alongside the possible need to protect. Striking the right balance requires sound knowledge, clear analysis, and accountable decision-making.
This open, half-day, online programme will bring together a range of adult social care professionals with a target audience of managers and practitioners working within statutory, independent, and private sector organisations.
During the session we will focus on the framework in relation to mental capacity and sexual relations. You will have an opportunity to actively consider, and discuss with other professionals, your role in supporting and enabling sexual/personal relationships.
There will be a detailed examination of A Local Authority v JB including a clear setting out of the scope and purpose of a mental capacity assessment for sexual relations. The duty to take appropriate action to protect individuals who lack the relevant capacity, will also be explored in depth.
You will be invited to share your questions and direct practice experience and will in turn benefit from hearing and engaging with the practice wisdom of other professionals. The aim is to deepen your understanding of the topic and embed learning to ensure that the session provides you with practical ways to apply best practice in your work with adults. Your active engagement will enable you to gain increased confidence and clarity in approaching this immensely important area of social care practice.
During the session we will focus on the framework in relation to mental capacity and sexual relations. You will have an opportunity to actively consider, and discuss with other professionals, your role in supporting and enabling sexual/personal relationships.
There will be a detailed examination of A Local Authority v JB including a clear setting out of the scope and purpose of a mental capacity assessment for sexual relations. The duty to take appropriate action to protect individuals who lack the relevant capacity, will also be explored in depth.
You will be invited to share your questions and direct practice experience and will in turn benefit from hearing and engaging with the practice wisdom of other professionals. The aim is to deepen your understanding of the topic and embed learning to ensure that the session provides you with practical ways to apply best practice in your work with adults. Your active engagement will enable you to gain increased confidence and clarity in approaching this immensely important area of social care practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the legal rights base of the freedom to engage in sexual relationships
- Identify the laws relevant to supporting people who may lack capacity to engage in sexual relationships
- Demonstrate legal literacy in applying the law when supporting people who may lack capacity to engage in sexual relationships
- Plan and undertake capacity assessments for sexual relations.
- Develop and evaluate appropriate support plans for personal/sexual relationships
Target Audience
This programme is relevant for practitioners who work directly with adults as well as for managers who support and supervise front-facing staff including:
• Local authority adult social care professional
• Staff working for care and support providers
• Advocates
• Health professionals e.g., specialist nurses
This programme is relevant for practitioners who work directly with adults as well as for managers who support and supervise front-facing staff including:
• Local authority adult social care professional
• Staff working for care and support providers
• Advocates
• Health professionals e.g., specialist nurses
About the Trainer
The programme will be delivered by Jason Marshall. Over Jason’s 30 years’ experience at different levels of the social care sector, he has developed an interest in looking deeply at issues of individual rights, power, and the role of public services. As a Social Worker, Trainer and Practice Educator this has led to a passion for high quality practice within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and safeguarding roles.
Jason has developed many courses and seminars, often drawn directly from experiences in consulting roles for frontline practitioners and always seeking to ensure the learning is directly relevant and applicable to the challenges of practice. He has covered issues including understanding the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, capacity case law, rights and risk taking, mental capacity and sexual relations and frontline practice with people at high risk. On behalf of local authorities, a local Adult Safeguarding Board and in a private capacity Jason’s audiences have included care workers and managers, Social Workers and associated professionals, students, private and voluntary sector organisations, and healthcare staff at all levels.
Jason’s enthusiasm for the MCA stems in particular from a firm belief that this enshrines the rights of individuals to self-determination, making it a powerful tool in genuine empowering practice as well as containing powers for professionals and others which must be used with care and accountability. Addressing this tension from a strong values base is combined with an analytical and accessible style, not to mention an endless professional curiosity and a wish to explore the issues which challenge us most.
The programme will be delivered by Jason Marshall. Over Jason’s 30 years’ experience at different levels of the social care sector, he has developed an interest in looking deeply at issues of individual rights, power, and the role of public services. As a Social Worker, Trainer and Practice Educator this has led to a passion for high quality practice within the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and safeguarding roles.
Jason has developed many courses and seminars, often drawn directly from experiences in consulting roles for frontline practitioners and always seeking to ensure the learning is directly relevant and applicable to the challenges of practice. He has covered issues including understanding the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, capacity case law, rights and risk taking, mental capacity and sexual relations and frontline practice with people at high risk. On behalf of local authorities, a local Adult Safeguarding Board and in a private capacity Jason’s audiences have included care workers and managers, Social Workers and associated professionals, students, private and voluntary sector organisations, and healthcare staff at all levels.
Jason’s enthusiasm for the MCA stems in particular from a firm belief that this enshrines the rights of individuals to self-determination, making it a powerful tool in genuine empowering practice as well as containing powers for professionals and others which must be used with care and accountability. Addressing this tension from a strong values base is combined with an analytical and accessible style, not to mention an endless professional curiosity and a wish to explore the issues which challenge us most.