Mental Capacity Screening Assessment Tool
(MC Screen)

The Mental Capacity Screening assessment tool (MC Screen)

The Mental Capacity Act requires that capacity should be assessed for each decision at the time that treatment is offered, but this is simply not practical for every element of basic care and intervention delivered to patients undergoing rehabilitation following acquired brain injury, especially in the light of changing needs.

Through a quality improvement programme conducted in the Regional Hyperacute Rehabilitation Unit at Northwick Park, we have developed a system for systematic screening and documentation of mental capacity to make decisions about basic care and treatment that is timely to use in routine clinical practice. Two rounds of audit demonstrated that implementation improved the consistency of assessment and documentation.

The MCScreen is a simple tool presented on one side of A4 paper that is applied within 24-48 hours of admission by the medical team.

It is designed to separate patients into three groups:

A follow-up assessment form confirms the legal basis for providing treatment

The Schema for assessment and documentation may be found here

The tools are free to use and may be download here:

1. The MCScreen and Follow-up Assessment

2. Documentation of mental capacity for patients in PDOC

3. Documentation of mental capacity for patients with very severe cognitive/communication deficits

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Further information can be obtained from the UKROC Team: LNWH-tr.ukroc@nhs.net