Social Work perspectives on Mental Capacity Act decision making in the context of practice with people with young onset dementia

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) in England and Wales provides a legal framework for those who lack capacity to make decisions. Social workers use the MCA to assess mental capacity and make Best Interests decisions in their practice. Little is known about how social workers use the MCA in their day-to-day practice to make decisions. Drawing on the findings of a qualitative research study using grounded theory, this thesis explores how social workers use the MCA to make decisions in the context of their practice with people who have young onset dementia (YOD).