On this page
- Who can be a decision-making representative?
- What is involved in being a decision-making representative?
- How does the DSS monitor and supervise a decision-making representative?
- How do you become a decision-making representative?
- How to find out if someone is a decision-making representative?
- Making a complaint about a decision-making representative
If a person is unable to make certain decisions, the court can appoint a decision-making representative to them. This will be written down in a decision-making representation order.
The decision-making representative’s role is to make certain decisions on the person’s behalf. The court lists all of the decisions that the decision-making representative can make. This may include decisions about property and money matters, as well as decisions about personal welfare.
Where possible, the court picks someone the person knows and trusts. If there is no one suitable who is able to do the role, the court can pick an independent decision-making representative from a panel.
If you are appointed as a decision-making representative, you can only make the decisions listed in the order. You must take the person's wishes into account when making decisions. You must also involve them in the decision making as much as possible.
Who can be a decision-making representative?
You can become a decision-making representative if you are an adult (18 years and over) and the court thinks you are a suitable person for the role.
What is involved in being a decision-making representative?
As a decision-making representative, your role is to make certain decisions on behalf of the person as their agent. You must ensure the decisions you make are in line with the person’s wishes as much as possible.
How does the DSS monitor and supervise a decision-making representative?
The Decision Support Service supervises decision-making representatives, and representatives must send a report to us every year.
These reports include details of big decisions taken under the court order.
How do you become a decision-making representative?
A decision-making representative is appointed by the court in a decision-making representation order.
How to find out if someone is a decision-making representative?
When the court appoints a decision-making representative, it lets us know and sends us a copy of the decision-making representation order.
Making a complaint about a decision-making representative
Anyone can make a complaint to us about a decision-making representative. Complaints must be in writing and must be for one of the following reasons:
- the decision-making representative is making, or is trying to make, decisions that are not included in the arrangement
- the decision-making representative is not suitable for the role
Find out more about making a complaint about a decision-making representative