Self-funder support

Safeguarding and decision-making

Safeguarding

Concerned about potential financial abuse? Everyone has the right to feel safe and live their life free from abuse or neglect.

The council have a dedicated safeguarding team that investigate concerns about any kind of abuse, including financial abuse.

Find out how to report a concern about an adult.

Making decisions

The Mental Capacity Act (2005) is a law that protects vulnerable people that may not be able to make decisions for themselves. The default position is that people have the right to make their own decisions wherever possible. 

Being able to make a particular decision at a particular time is known as mental capacity. If the person may not have the capacity to make these decisions, a mental capacity assessment will need to be carried out. If the person does not have capacity for that decision, a best interests decision will need to be made.

Read more about the Mental Capacity Act.

Lasting power of attorney (LPA)

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA.

There are 2 types of LPA:

• health and welfare
• property and financial affairs

You can choose to make one type or both.

Find out more about lasting powers of attorney on GOV.UK.

Last updated 28 November 2025