Ireland to demonstrate leadership in person-centred approach to adult capacity at landmark conference

Ireland to demonstrate leadership in person-centred approach to adult capacity at landmark conference

Decision Support Service (DSS) to host Four Jurisdictions Conference on Adult Capacity for the first time

Ireland will demonstrate its leadership in person-centred approaches to adult capacity when senior judicial, legal, public service and advocacy representatives from four neighbouring jurisdictions gather in Dublin for a major two-day conference on 24 and 25 September.

Hosted by the Decision Support Service (DSS), Adult Capacity in the Four Jurisdictions: A Person-Centred Approach will bring together colleagues and stakeholders from Ireland, England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, to share developments, experience, and best practice.

The biennial event is hosted in turn by the Offices of Public Guardian or their equivalents across the four jurisdictions. This year marks the first time the DSS will host the conference, placing Ireland at the centre of discussions on rights-based, person-centred decision-making support.

Ireland’s contribution will highlight progress under its modern assisted decision-making framework, including operational developments within the DSS, the discharge of adult wards by the Courts Service, implementation in health and social care by the HSE, and the design and delivery of services shaped by the voice of the person.

Speaking about the upcoming conference, Áine Flynn, Director of the DSS in Ireland said: “Ireland has an important story to tell about moving towards a system that supports people to exercise their legal capacity and places their will, preferences and participation at the heart of decision-making. Hosting this conference gives us an opportunity to demonstrate that leadership, learn from our neighbouring jurisdictions and strengthen co-operation on the challenges we share”.

The programme will include jurisdictional updates, legal developments and cases of note, person-centred service design, implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 in health and social care, advance planning, and oversight of court-appointed decision-makers and cross-border co-operation.

Contributions from people with lived experience will be embedded throughout the event.

Judge John O’Connor of the Circuit Court will contribute to a session in which judicial officeholders will provide updates on key legal developments across the four jurisdictions. Courts Service colleagues, including representatives from the Office of Wards of Court and the Office of the General Solicitor, will also attend and speak.

Link to the 2-day agenda: Adult capacity in the four jurisdictions: a person-centred approach