Elmari Bishop is a consultant social worker and lecturer practitioner. Her specialist areas include the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), Mental Health Act, safeguarding and the Human Rights Act, as well as the interface between them. Elmari provides consultancy and training around these areas.
Elmari is the safeguarding and legal intervention lead for Thurrock Council and maintains links at national level as the MCA/DoLS lead for the Mental Health Alliance.
Elmari is also a member of the MCA/DoLS regional implementation network in the east of England and leads on best interests assessor (BIA) refresher training in this geographical area.
She has many years of experience in the field of adult mental health as an approved mental health professional and in working as the MCA/DoLS lead for a large NHS organisation. Elmari continues to practise as a BIA.
The issue of consent to sexual relations and marriage is often a dilemma for practitioners. Case law provides guidance and this guide looks at implications for practice, including why both situations are "act specific" and not "person specific".
Looks at the key steps behind making a best interests decision on behalf of someone you have assessed as lacking the relevant capacity to make the decision.
Sets out the principles behind the Mental Capacity Act and the steps that must be taken to ensure you are legally compliant when carrying out a mental capacity assessment.