Articles

Managing Money, Gifts and Financial Decisions in Older People’s Services: Capacity, Consent and Safeguarding Controls

Financial decisions are a common safeguarding flashpoint in older people’s services, especially where capacity fluctuates or family relationships are strained. This article explains how to support autonomy while preventing abuse,...

Intimacy, Sexual Consent and Safeguarding in Older People’s Services: Lawful Practice and Defensible Decision-Making

Intimacy in older people’s services can raise complex questions about consent, capacity, privacy, safeguarding and family involvement. This article sets out practical, lawful approaches to supporting relationships while managing risk,...

Recording Capacity, Consent and Safeguarding Decisions in Older People’s Services: Evidence That Stands Up to Scrutiny

Poor recording is one of the most common reasons providers fail to evidence good practice around capacity, consent and safeguarding. This article explains how to record decisions clearly, consistently and...

Managing Consent and Risk Around Medication in Older People’s Services: Refusal, Review and Safeguards

Medication decisions in older people’s services are a frequent source of safeguarding concern, family conflict and inspection challenge. This article sets out how to manage consent, refusal and risk around...

Advocacy and the Person’s Voice in Older People’s Services: Consent, IMCA Triggers and Defensible Best Interests Decisions

Older people can become unheard during safeguarding, hospital discharge and complex decision-making, especially where family conflict or fluctuating capacity is present. This article shows how to embed advocacy and person-led...

Managing Safeguarding Enquiries in Older People’s Services: Section 42 Readiness, Evidence and Multi-Agency Working

Safeguarding concerns in older people’s services can escalate quickly into formal enquiries, contract scrutiny and inspection focus. This article shows how to run a defensible safeguarding process: clear thresholds, high-quality...

Responding to Self-Neglect in Older People’s Services: Safeguarding, Capacity and Proportionate Intervention

Self-neglect presents complex ethical and operational challenges in older people’s services. This article explains how to respond lawfully and proportionately, balancing autonomy with protection while meeting safeguarding, commissioning and CQC...

Managing Restrictions and Positive Risk-Taking in Older People’s Services: Lawful Practice, Evidence and Review

Restrictions are often introduced quietly in older people’s services and left in place for convenience or fear of risk. This article explains how to manage restrictions lawfully, embed positive risk-taking,...

Consent, Confidentiality and Family Involvement in Older People’s Services: Lawful Information Sharing and Visiting Decisions

Providers are judged on how they balance privacy with partnership working: sharing information appropriately, managing visiting, and responding to family pressure or conflict. This article sets out practical, defensible approaches...

Applying the Mental Capacity Act in Older People’s Services: Day-to-Day Decisions, Consent and Best Interests

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is tested in routine moments: personal care, medicines, finances, visitors, and everyday restrictions. This guide shows how to build a defensible MCA approach that protects...