Mental Capacity Act

When you start growing up, people should listen to what you think and what you want. 

Mental capacity means being able to make your own choices.

When you finish compulsory school (this is usually the last Friday in June when you turn 16), you are called a young person. This means you can start making more decisions aboput your future.

Your family can still help you if you want them to - they can come to meetings with you, help with forms, or read letters for you.

From this point you are expected to make decisions about your own future, but your family can still be involved and help you if you want them to. 

Sometimes, adults might do a Mental Capacity Assessment. This is just to see if you can make big decisions on your own. If you need help, your parents or carers will make those important decisions with you or for you. 

People who can carry out the Mental Capacity Assessment must make sure that you, as a young person, are treated fairly. People who can do this include: doctors, social workers, lawyers, special helpers called Independent Mental Capacity Advocates, and other trained adults. 

If you want to learn more, you can go to this website: 

www.gov.uk/government/collections/mental-capacity-act-making-decisions