EXPERTS from health and social care gathered at a conference in Dorset to explore issues surrounding the Mental Capacity Act.

They met to discuss how to best support people who are faced with making decisions for those who can no longer do this for themselves.

The event also reinforced the vital role families play when making decisions for relatives.

The conference, organised by Dorset County Council and Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (Dorset CCG), saw delegates from a wide range of organisations take part.

Keynote speakers included Mark Neary, who made recent legal history by taking a London council to the Court of Protection when it unlawfully detained his autistic son for more than a year.

The Mental Capacity Act, which came into force in 2007, can cover all sorts of major decisions where a person may lack capacity about things like finance, social care, medical treatment and research arrangements.