Learning hub on supporting people with executive dysfunction launched

Mental capacity assessments are not taking place when expected, according to the second national analysis of safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) in England published earlier this year.

One reason cited by reviews was the failure to recognise the role of executive function in decision making.

“An individual’s articulate, verbal presentation may give no cause to question capacity, yet their inability to follow through on stated decisions demonstrates potential loss of executive function, potentially making it difficult for them to follow through on decisions about safety or follow advice given about handling risky situations,” the national analysis said.

Some SARs commented on the absence of specific guidance for practitioners on executive function.

Filling the knowledge gap on executive functioning

This week, Community Care Inform Adults launches a learning hub on executive functioning to fill that gap.

Written by James Codling, a local authority Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards training and development manager, and Dr Emma Cameron, a clinical neuropsychologist, it is available to those with a licence for Inform Adults.

The hub comprises six guides to improve your knowledge of the brain and cognition and to help you support people with executive functioning difficulties.

Alongside the guides are detailed case examples, key messages from case law, activities for reflection, videos and a webinar. Everything is designed to help you understand what to do when presented with someone who ‘talks the talk’ but cannot ‘walk the walk’, as executive dysfunction is often colloquially described.

Learning outcomes 

The content will help you understand how issues with levels of awareness can have an impact on an individual’s ability to complete tasks in function. Learning outcomes include:

• An understanding of what executive dysfunction is.
• How problems with executive functions arise.
• Clinical populations where executive dysfunction may be observed.
• How problems might present.
• How to adapt your approach depending on how the individual presents, with support strategies for each executive feature.
• An understanding of the frontal lobe paradox, and when and how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 should be applied.
• What to consider as part of your capacity assessment if you think executive dysfunction might be a factor, and what needs to be included in the assessment.

If you have a licence for Community Care Inform Adults, you can log in to access the learning hub here.