AN ORGANISATION is looking to talk to people about their experience of the law designed to keep adults safe when they are unable to make decisions without support.

North Yorkshire’s Safeguarding Adults Board (NYSAB), which is made up of organisations including North Yorkshire County Council, police, health services and community and voluntary organisations, wants to speak to as many people as possible about their experience of the Mental Capacity Act.

The board wants to make sure that people, their families and carers understand their rights under the act and know what to do when things go wrong. It also wants to make sure that the people working within their organisations have all of the information and tools they need to support people in making decisions and to know what the Mental Capacity Act says and how to use it.

Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward, vice-chair of NYSAB, said: “In 2018, the NYSAB will be out and about across North Yorkshire talking to as many people as possible who may be affected by the act, including professionals and local businesses who may come into contact with people who need extra support to make decisions.

“We want to find out what is working well, what isn’t working so well and what support and guidance people would find helpful.

“To help us to decide the right questions to ask and who we should be speaking to, we are also setting up a steering group that will meet twice in January and February 2018. It will then meet again in June to discuss the feedback we have received and decide what should happen next."

Anyone interested in joining the group, should get in touch with Erin Outram at North Yorkshire County Council on 01609-532078 or email; Erin.outram@northyorks.gov.uk by Friday, December 22.

NYAB also wants to make sure that it speaks to as many people as possible about their experience of the Mental Capacity Act and hear their ideas about how improvements could be made across North Yorkshire.

If you would like to contribute your views on this or would be interested in hosting an engagement discussion in 2018, please contact Erin by Tuesday, January 2.