Salient Information

Important reminder: Keep to the assessment!

5 January 20264 December 2025
Mental Capacity in Practice

Mental Capacity is time and decision specific. For this reason, it is absolutely vital to keep the assessment of capacity focused on the matter at hand, and not to deviate from the central topic, or include irrelevant information that might cause distractions or misunderstandings. Otherwise, the assessor might inadvertently ‘sabotage’ the person’s ability to frame the relevant information and make a decision.

Elderly man walking through city using two walking sticks to support his mobility.

What is ‘salient information’?

10 June 20248 June 2024
Case Study, Mental Capacity in Practice

When conducting a Mental Capacity Assessment it is vital to understand the salient information relevant to this case. Put simply, ‘salient information’ is the relevant information that is required in order for the relevant person to be able to demonstrate capacity for the specific decision being addressed.

To help illustrate this point, we have two case studies that consider two separate decisions: whether to install bed rails, and whether to smoke.