[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-281340-105":53,"doc-detail-281340-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":120,"head_meta":122,"extra_data":124,"updated_unix":126},105,"en","template-letter-contact-with-a-loved-one-best-interests-meeting-request","Template letter - Contact with a loved one - Best interests meeting request","","Template letter requesting appropriate contact with a loved one who lacks capacity to make decisions, framed under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The letter explains that decisions must be made in the person’s best interests and outlines key steps: encouraging participation, considering past wishes and feelings, and consulting relevant carers and interested parties. It also addresses COVID-19-related restrictions and asks the council to meet to review the immediate and future welfare decisions, offering remote meeting options if needed.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/template-letter-contact-with-a-loved-one-best-interests-meeting-request/281340/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/template-letter-contact-with-a-loved-one-best-interests-meeting-request/281340.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Pentious","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-19","2026-09-16",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",6,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"What legal framework does the letter reference to justify decision-making for a person who lacks capacity?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"The letter references the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), which requires decisions to be made in the person’s best interests when they lack capacity. It also notes that the MCA and its code of practice govern how disputes about mental capacity should be resolved.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What steps does the letter say should be included in a best interests decision?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"The letter lists steps including encouraging the person to participate fully, considering past and present wishes and feelings as well as beliefs and values that would influence decisions, and consulting people involved in caring for the person or interested in their welfare.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How does the letter propose handling meetings given COVID-19 restrictions?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"The letter states that a face-to-face meeting may not be possible and requests coordination for a best interests meeting using conference calling or platforms such as Skype or Zoom.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},281340,1790493939,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":73,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":9},1374404730887,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Template letter : Contact with a loved one  \nYOUR NAME YOUR ADDRESS DATE  \nDear [NAME]  \nI am writing to you in respect of my [son/daughter/brother/sister/family friend, etc] . He/ she [insert here a summary of their disabilities], and as a result lacks the capacity to make decisions concerning contact with his/her family.  \nI understand that [explain the restrictions on contact that have been introduced] .  \n[If appropriate] Currently I am showing no symptoms of Covid-19 and will of course follow Government advice regarding personal hygiene, handwashing, social distancing and if necessary self-isolation. I fell that the restrictions placed on both [insert name] and I will have a detrimental impact on [his/her] well-being and may result in an increase in challenging behaviour.  \nWhilst I appreciate that you and your staff will be concerned about the current COVID-19 pandemic, the law regarding decision making has not changed.  \nAs you will be aware, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) governs the process for decisionmaking in someone’s best interests where they lack the mental capacity to make that decision themselves. The Act says that when a person lacks capacity to make a decision themselves, a decision must be made in their best interests. If there is a dispute over mental capacity, the MCA and its code of practice also govern the process by which that dispute should be resolved.  \nWhile the term‘best interests’ is not defined by the MCA, section 4 of the Act provides a list of some of the matters that should be taken into account when considering what is in an individual’s best interests. The code of practice to the MCA provides detailed guidance on what should be considered, and the steps that should be taken, when considering best interests. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the requirement that a best interests decision must take account of all the relevant circumstances and, in particular, should include the following steps:  \n1. Encourage [insert name] to participate as fully as possible in the decision-making process.  \n2. Consider [insert name]’s past and present wishes and feelings and the beliefs and values that would be likely to influence his/her decision if he/she had capacity. [Insert specifics here if relevant, eg your cultural or religious background] .  \n3. Consider the views of anyone engaged in caring for the person or interested in his/her welfare. Steps need to be taken to properly consult.  \nClearly this decision should have involved me as [insert name]’s [insert relationship], and I would like to draw to your attention the comments of Mr Justice Hedley in the case Re P [2010] EWHC 1592 (Fam):  \n“... in a society structured as is ours, it is not the State whether through the agency of an authority or the Court, which is primarily responsible for individuals who are subject or citizens of the State. It is for those who naturally have their care and well being at heart, that is to say members of the family, where they are willing and able to do so, to take first place in the care and upbringing, not only of children, but of those whose needs, because of disability, extend far into adulthood. It seems to me at least that the Act ought to be read subject to that overriding policy aim.”  \nThis does mean that both [insert name] and I should be fully involved when any decision is being made on his/her behalf.  \nInvolving [insert name] will mean taking practical steps to assist him/her in communicating his/her wishes or preferences, for example [explain how they might do this, eg by using simple language or pictures] . [Insert name] may need help to express his/her wishes or preferences, so you may need to involve someone who knows him/her well – such as me – in this.  \nIn addition, you must consult with me and anyone else interested in [insert name]’s welfare to get our views. I do not need to be appointed a ‘welfare deputy’ in order to be consulted.  \nI have written this letter using a gu","cbCaiuAEO3JRQmAC","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuAEO3JRQmAC","pdf",160135,"English","# Template letter : Contact with a loved one\n## Requesting best interests involvement and decision steps\n## COVID-19 restrictions and legal basis under MCA\n## Meeting arrangement and consultation","[{\"question\":\"What legal framework does the letter reference to justify decision-making for a person who lacks capacity?\",\"answer\":\"The letter references the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), which requires decisions to be made in the person’s best interests when they lack capacity. It also notes that the MCA and its code of practice govern how disputes about mental capacity should be resolved.\"},{\"question\":\"What steps does the letter say should be included in a best interests decision?\",\"answer\":\"The letter lists steps including encouraging the person to participate fully, considering past and present wishes and feelings as well as beliefs and values that would influence decisions, and consulting people involved in caring for the person or interested in their welfare.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the letter propose handling meetings given COVID-19 restrictions?\",\"answer\":\"The letter states that a face-to-face meeting may not be possible and requests coordination for a best interests meeting using conference calling or platforms such as Skype or Zoom.\"}]","Template letter - Contact with a loved one - Best interests meeting request | PDF",1789565619]