When you reach the age of 16 and are no longer in compulsory education you can begin to make your own decisions. This can include taking control of your Education Health and Care Plan if you are able to and preparing to live more independently.
How are your wishes recognised?
Your rights
Everyone has the right to have their wishes and aspirations for the future recognised and, according to the Equality Act everyone has the right to be treated fairly. The following principles should apply to the support you receive as you move into adult life.
The Department for Health has produced an easy-read fact sheet about the Equality Act and what it means for you.
When you aren’t well it can sometimes be left to other people to make decisions for you. You can make decisions in advance to help other people know what would be best for you.
The NHS has produced an easy read fact sheet about making decisions in advance.
The following pointers explain how choices about your care should be made:
- Confidentiality
The person seeing you should explain how any information you give them might be shared and about your right to talk to someone on your own. - Consent
The person seeing you should check that you agree with the help they are suggesting and explain other possible choices if you do not agree. - Your needs
If you or your family need help from an interpreter or want information in a certain way, then the health or social care practitioner, or the person working with you, should try and organise this. - Complaints
If you are not happy with the help you have received, you can find more information about how to give us feedback or make a complaint on our website.
You can also make your wishes known in advance to help those who may be making decisions on your behalf. For more information read the Department for Health’s guide about decision making.
Advocacy duty
The Care Act 2014 says that: ‘the advocacy duty will apply from the point of first contact between a person and their local authority and at any later stage of the assessment, planning, care review, safeguarding enquiry or safeguarding adult review. If it appears to the authority that a person has care and support needs, then a judgement must be made as to whether that person has substantial difficulty in being involved and if there is an appropriate individual to support them. An independent advocate must be appointed to support and represent the person for the purpose of assisting their involvement if these two conditions are met’.
The Mental Capacity Act
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 covers people in England and Wales who can’t make some or all decisions for themselves. The ability to understand and make a decision when it needs to be made is called ‘mental capacity’.The act applies to everyone involved in the care, treatment and support of people aged 16 and over living in England and Wales who are unable to make all or some decisions for themselves.
It is important for young people preparing for adult life as it ensures that their wishes are heard and that they can make decisions about how they live their life.
- It is designed to restore power to vulnerable people who lack capacity.
- It supports those who have capacity to choose and help plan for their future.
- The Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice provides support and guidance for carers and all professionals who have a duty of care to comply with it.
- If capacity is lacking, the checklist described in the code must be used in order to establish the best interests of the person concerned.
The Office of the Public Guardian has produced an easy read guide with more information about the Mental Health Capacity Act and how it could affect you