The seven overriding beliefs, ideals & values that Professional Deputies consider vital to the way we go about our work are:
i) transparency
ii) accountability
iii) to act in the best interests of our clients
iv) to carry out our duties and responsibilities to the best of our abilities
v) to act professionally at all times in all business conducted
vi) to be willing to find innovative solutions to problems
vii) to be committed to offering value for money

The two main pieces of legislation that govern the work we do are:

Mental Capacity Act 2005 (came into force October 1st 2007)
The Act provides a statutory framework to empower and protect people who may lack capacity to make some decisions for themselves. It makes it clear who can take decisions in which situations and how they should go about this. It enables people to plan ahead for a time when they may lack capacity. The whole Act is underpinned by a set of five key principles set out in Section 1 of the Act:
A presumption of capacity – every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so unless it is proved otherwise;
Individuals being supported to make their own decisions – a person must be given all practicable help before anyone treats them as not being able to make their own decisions;
Unwise decisions – just because an individual makes what might be seen as an unwise decision, they should not be treated as lacking capacity to make that decision;
Best interests – an act done or decision made under the Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done in their best interests; and
Least restrictive option – anything done for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms.

Further information on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 can be viewed here in two easy to read guides:
–‘Making decisions: an Easyread guide’
-‘Making decisions: A guide for family, friends and other unpaid carers’

Court of Protection Rules 2007 (came into force October 1st 2007)
The Court of Protection Rules 2007 sets out the practice and procedure to be followed in the CoP, and has the overriding objective of enabling the court to deal with a case justly, having regard to the principles contained in the Mental Capacity Act 2005.