Lasting Power of Attorney Online Testing Event
The Project
Attorneys and donors should be able to use this online service instead of showing the paper LPA to organisations or posting it to them which can be a lengthy and complicated process.
In June 2019 we were advised by the Engagement Manager and Carers Lead at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) that their Safeguarding Adults named nurse was investigating how the online service could help health professionals, particular those working in the community, to check the LPA to provide appropriate assurance and to comply with the Mental Capacity Act when delivering care.
As the researchers at the OPG also wanted to have members of the public to test the system, HCT recommended Healthwatch Hertfordshire as the independent health and social care champion to host an event.
Our involvement
We recruited a small group of volunteers, some of whom already had an LPA in place and some who didn’t. We were also joined by 2 members of staff from Age UK Hertfordshire who lead on this area of work within their organisation.
Over three hourly sessions, volunteers were able to go through the process of proving LPA to an organisation online as if for real, see how easy it was and to make suggestions about what could be improved in either the initial letter of LPA confirmation or about the system itself.
Some of the volunteers also agreed to continue to the next phase of testing in November with the OPG researchers.
Next steps
It is hoped that the system will go live to the general public and for organisations in about 6 months’ time. It is clear that this will make it easier for individuals to prove they have a registered LPA and where there are multiple family members holding a LPA for an individual, you can also see who they have approached and which organisations have accepted the LPA.
The online system will not replace paper copies but will be an additional method available to use. Individuals will be able to choose which is the most convenient way for them to prove LPA. It is however voluntary for organisations to agree to accept the online code as part of their governance regulations so it may take time for financial and health organisations to feel assured about the process. The researchers at the OPG will be working to encourage organisations such as hospitals and banks to join the system and those registering a LPA can alert the OPG to an organisation who is keen to learn more.
What is the Office of the Public Guardian and Lasting Power of Attorney?
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) helps people in England and Wales to stay in control of decisions about their health and finance and make important decisions for others who cannot decide for themselves.
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’).
There are 2 types of LPA:
• health and welfare
• property and financial affairs
If you want to find out more about making an LPA for yourself or someone else you can find out more here
Organisations such as Age UK Hertfordshire can also provide information and advice on LPAs.
